The tightrope CCL, intra-operative measurement and control of isometric placement

Abstract

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, as one of the most common orthopedic conditions in stifle joints of dogs, is the leading cause of hind limb lameness in dogs (Whitehair et al. 1993, Johnson et al. 1994, Duval et al. 1999), resulting in instability of the stifle joint and leading to development of progressive osteoarthritis (OA) (Elkins et al. 1991, Innes and Barr 1998). To stabilize the stifle joint, alleviate the pain, and delay the progression of OA surgical treatment is currently recommended. As one of the extra-capsular stabilizing techniques TightRope CCL is based on the correct placement of the implant at “most isometric points” of the attachment sites on femur and tibia. Aim of the thesis was to describe a method for intra-operative measurement and control of isometric placement of the TightRope CCL implant.