Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • What's Your Diagnosis
  • Published:

Diagnosis | Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament of the knee

Lab Animal volume 36, pages 20–21 (2007)Cite this article

The beagle had a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). This condition, sometimes referred to as anterior cruciate ligament rupture, is the most common knee injury in the dog. The stifle or knee joint has two cruciate ligaments that cross inside the knee joint: the cranial cruciate and the caudal cruciate. The CCL prevents the tibia from slipping forward out from under the femur.

The key to diagnosis of a ruptured CCL is the demonstration of an abnormal knee motion called the 'cranial drawer sign'. The veterinarian stabilizes the position of the femur with one hand and manipulates the tibia with the other hand. If the tibia moves forward (like a drawer being opened), the CCL is ruptured. A normal knee will not show this sign.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Whitehair, J.G., Vasseur, P.B. & Willits, N.H. Epidemiology of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 203(7), 1016–1019 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hayashi, K., Manley, P.A. & Muir, P. Cranial cruciate ligament pathophysiology in dogs with cruciate disease: a review. J. Am. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 40(5), 385–390 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Muir, P., Danova, N.A., Argyle, D.J., Manley, P.A. & Hao, Z. Collagenolytic protease expression in cranial cruciate ligament and stifle synovial fluid in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Vet. Surg. 34(5), 482–490 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Barrett, J.G. et al. Inflammatory changes in ruptured canine cranial and human anterior cruciate ligaments. Am. J. Vet. Res. 66(12), 2073–2080 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hayashi, K. et al. Histologic changes in ruptured canine cranial cruciate ligament. Vet. Surg. 32(3), 269–277 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Duval, J.M., Budsberg, S.C., Flo, G.L. & Sammarco, J.L. Breed, sex, and body weight as risk factors for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in young dogs. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 215(6), 811–814 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ralphs, S.C. & Whitney, W.O. Arthroscopic evaluation of menisci in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament injuries: 100 cases (1999–2000). J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 221(11), 1601–1604 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Martig, S. et al. Low-field Mri and arthroscopy of meniscal lesions in ten dogs with experimentally induced cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound 47(6), 515–522 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gnudi, G. & Bertoni, G. Echographic examination of the stifle joint affected by cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound 42(3), 266–270 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilke, V.L., Robinson, D.A., Evans, R.B., Rothschild, M.F. & Conzemius, M.G. Estimate of the annual economic impact of treatment of cranial cruciate ligament injury in dogs in the United States. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 227(10), 1604–1607 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Johnson, A.L. & Hulse, D.A. in Small Animal Surgery (eds. Fossum, T.W. & Hedlund, C.S.) 1110–1122 (Mosby, St. Louis, 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Aragon, C.L. & Budsberg, S.C. Applications of evidence-based medicine: cranial cruciate ligament injury repair in the dog. Vet. Surg. 34(2), 93–98 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Diagnosis | Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament of the knee. Lab Anim 36, 20–21 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0407-20

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0407-20

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing