Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Four The Appendicular Skeleton 553
Fig. 4-101 A 3-year-old male Doberman Pinscher exhibited pain in both rear limbs. The lameness
had been present in the right rear limb for 1 year and in the left rear limb for 3 months. There is softtissue
swelling involving the right stifle. There are areas of bony proliferation involving the distal
femoral articular surface, both femoral epicondyles, fabellae, and the proximal and distal margins of
the patella (arrows). There are areas of bony proliferation on the medial and lateral aspects of the
proximal tibia (arrows) and irregularity of the distal femoral articular surface. Diagnosis: Severe
degenerative joint disease. This dog was found to have bilateral cranial cruciate ligament ruptures.
Fig. 4-102 A 10-year-old female
Keeshond was lame in the right rear
limb for 4 months. There was no history
of trauma; however, palpation of
the right stifle revealed ligamentous
instability. There is mild soft-tissue
swelling of the stifle joint and
malalignment of the proximal tibia
and distal femur, with the proximal
tibia displaced cranially relative to the
distal femur. The popliteal sesamoid
bone is displaced distally. Two small
bone densities are associated with the
distal aspect of the medial fabella and
proximal aspect of the lateral fabella.
Secondary degenerative joint disease
is not evident at this time. Diagnosis:
Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament.
The small bone densities associated
with the fabellae may be due to
trauma to the gastrocnemius muscle
attachments. This degree of malalignment
is unusual in dogs with ruptured
cranial cruciate ligament. The presence
of obvious bony malalignment
on a nonstressed lateral radiograph
indicates severe ligamentous damage.