Intra-articular replacement of the caudal cruciate ligament using an UHMWPE ligament under arthroscopic guidance in a dog: A case report

Abstract

Background: As isolated ruptures of the caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL) are rare in dogs, there is no consensus on the indications and the gold-standard surgical technique for treatment. Case Description: A 2-year-old Shepherd dog with an isolated rupture of the CdCL was treated with a new surgical technique for synthetic reconstruction. Three bone tunnels were drilled in the femur and the tibia under arthroscopic guidance to make sure the anatomical insertions of the physiological ligament were respected. An Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) implant was fixed with interference screws to reconstruct the CdCL. A synovial inflammation remained present on radiographs for six months after the surgery, together with a mild lameness. However, the dog fully recovered clinically and recovered a normal level of activity after six months. LOAD results at six months and one year postoperatively were excellent. Conclusion: The use of an UHMWPE implant fixed with interference screws to reconstruct the CdCL allowed a return to full function of the knee without complications, despite a persistent synovial inflammation and mild lameness for a 6-month period after the surgery. The success of this isolated surgical technique could lead to improvements in the surgical management of CdCL rupture, if these initial results are confirmed by a prospective study with a larger number of patients.