J Vet Sci.  2018 Sep;19(5):693-698. 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.5.693.

Evaluation of an arthroscopic stifle lever for stifle joint distraction in toy breed dogs

• Park JY
• Jeong BS
• Roh YS
• Jeong SM
• Lee HB

• KMID: 2420939
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2018.19.5.693

Abstract

Arthroscopy has become an attractive modality in the diagnosis and treatment of joint diseases in toy breed dogs. However, the application of arthroscopy is limited by small joint space. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a stifle lever for joint distraction during stifle arthroscopy in toy breed dogs. Paired stifles (n = 32 each) collected from 16 cadavers of toy breed dogs were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the stifle lever group or the external manipulation group. All stifles underwent arthroscopic cranial cruciate ligament transection, and the visualization of the medial meniscus was evaluated. Medial meniscal release (MMR) was then performed. Following arthroscopic examination, the success rates of MMR and damages of tibial and femoral cartilages were evaluated. Visualization of the medial meniscus was significantly better, and meniscal probing was significantly easier, in the stifle lever group than in the external manipulation group (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups for MMR success or articular cartilage damage. Using the stifle lever on arthroscopic examination improved visualization and probing on the medial meniscus in toy breed dogs. The stifle lever can be used as a good modality in assessing medial meniscal pathology in toy breed dogs.

Keyword

arthroscopy; distraction; meniscus injury; stifle lever; toy breed dogs

MeSH Terms

Animals
Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Arthroscopy
Cadaver
Cartilage
Cartilage, Articular
Diagnosis
Dogs*
Joint Diseases
Joints*
Menisci, Tibial
Pathology
Play and Playthings*
Stifle*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Application of the arthroscopic stifle lever (arrow) to the caudal aspect of the tibia with cranial tibial thrust.

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  Fig. 2 (A) Arthroscopic view of a stifle documenting the measurement of the distance between the medial femoral condyle (mFC) and the tibial articular cartilage. Visualization was scored by using the tip of the probe. (B and C) Digital imaging and a computer software program were used to trace the entire surface of the articular cartilage, the area of damaged articular cartilage (which was stained with India ink), and to calculate the percentage area of cartilage damage for both the femoral and tibial surfaces. mM, medial meniscus; MP, meniscal probe; pTAC, proximal tibial articular cartilage.

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  Fig. 3 Arthroscopic view during medial meniscal release (MMR). (A) Visualization of the medial meniscus was better when a stifle lever was used, and the stifle lever protected the caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL) during arthroscopic MMR. (B) Arthroscopic view when MMR was performed using external manipulation. mFC, medial femoral condyle; mM, medial meniscus; pTAC, proximal tibial articular cartilage; MHK, meniscus hook knife.

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  Fig. 4 Gross observations on disarticulation. (A) Incompletely transected caudal meniscotibial ligament in a stifle from the stifle lever group. The remaining caudal meniscotibial ligament is denoted by the asterisk. (B) The arrow points to a completely transected caudal meniscotibial ligament in a stifle from the external manipulation group. (C) A compressed caudal cruciate ligament (arrow) caused by the placement of the stifle lever.

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