The cranial cruciate ligament rupture is one of the main orthopaedic diseases which affect dogs. Many surgical techniques have been described and they aim to relief the pain, restore stifle biomechanical stability and prevent the progression of osteoarthritis. Fascia lata, braided polyester and polyamida were used in lateral fabellar suture to stifle stabilization after induced cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs that were submitted to radiographic and macroscopic evaluation of joint. In this study 18 dogs weighting more than 15kg were used (middleweight - 19.67kg), distributed in three groups corresponding to each technique, evaluated during 30 and 60 days. In the radiographic exam, the dogs had evidence of moderate to severe joint effusion, capsular distension and, in most cases, lacking of degenerative articular disease features. At the macroscopic exam of the stifle joint thickening of the joint capsule and periarticular soft tissues, erosion of the femoral condyles cartilage in all groups and loosening of the suture were observed in dogs submitted to extra-articular stabilization techniques employing braided polyester and polyamida.
surgery; radiology; orthopaedics