Stifle surgery

The patella (knee cap) can sometimes luxate (dislocate) from the groove in which it should run. This groove is found on the front of the bottom of the femur (thigh bone), and forms part of the stifle (knee) joint.

Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in the stifle (knee) joint is a very common problem in dogs.

Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament is one of the commonest problems that is referred to us. Rupture of this ligament can be partial or complete and the cartilages in the knee can be damaged because of the instability that results.

Patella luxation is a common problem in dogs. The patella (kneecap) luxates (dislocates) from the trochlea (the groove) in which it is supposed to run on the bottom end of the femur (thigh bone).

To the best of our knowledge here at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals, Yoda is only the second cat ever to have a Ridgestop placed. This technique is a new addition to the techniques used to manage patella (kneecap) luxation (dislocation). The patella should normally track up and down in a groove. Luxation occurs when it slips out of that groove.

A Spinone Louis was unlucky enough to get an osteosarcoma aggressive bone tumour in a hind limb in 2012. He had a hind limb amputation with us, and his likely survival time with this and chemotherapy was about a year. There is an information sheet on osteosarcoma on our West Midlands Veterinary Referrals website under the section for owners (and the one for vets), in the subsection of “fact sheets”.

Jagger was a 3 year old, 65kg, gentle giant of a Mastiff. When his cruciate ligament ruptured in his left stifle (knee) joint, he needed surgery which was done at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals.

Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament is one of the commonest problems that is referred to us. The rupture of this ligament can be partial or complete and the cartilage in the knee can be damaged because of the instability that results.

Tula, a 10 y  Cross bred dog presented to us at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals with right hind limb lameness asscoaited with cruciate ligament rupture in the right stifle (knee) and patella (knee cap) luxation (dislocation).