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Writer's pictureAbbie Tipler

Stifle Lameness - It is not always the cruciate

















Case 1 - Tofu - referred for cranial cruciate ligament rupture. ⁠


Hx: LPL lameness⁠


PE: Painful in both stifles on examination, no lameness or pain in forelimbs, lame in left pelvic limb only. No palpable instability of cruciate. ⁠


Top ddx - bilateral partial cranial cruciate ligament tears. ⁠


Radiographs: Bilateral stifle effusion⁠


Joint taps (4 joints): MULTIFOCAL SEVERE NEUTROPHILIC INFLAMMATION.⁠


Diagnosis: IMPA and doing well on immunosuppression. ⁠


Case 2 - Remington - referred for 'not doing well post left TPLO (12 months prior)' ⁠


Hx: R pelvic limb lameness progressively getting worse over last 3 months. Now dog not wanting to get up. ⁠


PE: Painful in both stifles on examination, no lameness of pain in forelimbs, painful in left (TPLO) stifle and slight discomfort in right stifle. Palpable instability R stifle. Forelimbs nad on exam. ⁠


Top ddx - Infection left pelvic limb post TPLO, right cruciate ligament rupture. ⁠


Joint taps (4 joints): MODERATE TO MARKED MONONUCLEAR AND NEUTROPHILIC INFLAMMATION⁠


Diagnosis: IMPA and doing well on immunosuppression. ⁠


Case 3 - second opinion for 'cruciate ligament rupture' diagnosis. ⁠


Hx: Diagnosed with cruciate rupture and owner opted for conservative management due to co-morbidities (diabetic, adrenal tumour)⁠


PE: Significant pain and muscle wastage right stifle.⁠


Top ddx - I want to say cruciate rupture, as it fits with my story. But I was worried given worsening lameness and pain over time and the degree of muscle wastage.⁠


Radiographs: Distal femoral lysis ⁠


Diagnosis - Pending, likely neoplastic/possible infection. Not cruciate. ⁠


For stifle lameness, the most common diagnosis is cruciate ligament disease. But don't forget your basic diagnostics - radiographs and joint taps. Joint taps are easy and I have made videos in my blog post here;⁠


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