Cruciate Ligament Repair

What are cruciate ligaments? 

You may have heard the term cruciate ligaments used in the world of football. Tearing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common hazard for footballers whether they’re in the premier league or enjoying a Saturday knock about in the local park.

Cruciate ligaments are important ligaments located in the knee joint in the hind legs. They help to stabilise the joint during movement.. These ligaments help prevent the knee moving too far forward and maintains stability during activities like walking, running and jumping.

Causes of cruciate ligament injuries

Ligament injuries can happen to dogs of any age or breed but they’re more common in inactive or large breeds..

Degenerative

As dogs age, their ligaments naturally become less elastic, particularly making the CCL prone to tears. Some breeds such as Labradors, Newfoundlands and Rottweilers are more likely to suffer because of inherited characteristics like joint conformation and body structure. Being overweight can also increase strain on the joints and raise the risk of ligament damage. Some individuals are simply genetically predisposed to suffer with cruciate ligament disease.

There are certain conditions which can weaken joints over time like arthritis and chronic inflammation, increasing the likelihood of degeneration and eventual rupture.

Trauma

Traumatic injury occurs when your dog experiences a force or impact that causes the ligament to rupture. This often occurs when they make a sudden twisting motion such as pivoting on one leg or landing awkwardly. These movements place excessive strain on the CLL causing it to partially tear or rupture. Such injuries can also occur if they slip on a wet surface or step into a hole.

Diagnosing and ligament injury

 If your dog has injured their CCL you may notice the following symptoms:

• Being unable to bear weight on the affected leg
• Limping
• Pain and swelling around the knee joint
• Hesitation to put weight on the leg, even after resting
• Changes in behaviour such as whining, whimpering or withdrawing from normal activity

To correctly diagnose CCL injury and to get the right treatment you’ll need to see your vet. They’ll examine your dog, look for signs of swelling or trauma around the affected leg and observe the way they use it. They may also advise your dog is x-rayed.

Your vet will also conduct joint mobility tests to check their range of motion. They’ll gently manipulate the knee joint to detect abnormal forward movement and they’ll test the ankle joint too. This is not always possible to do if a dog is in discomfort, so they may need to provide your dog with an anaesthetic or sedation to facilitate these tests.

How is a cruciate ligament injury treated?

Management of your dog’s injury will depend on how severe it is and how it was caused – trauma or degenerative. 

Surgical management

There are several surgical methods of treating cruciate disease- all of which have their own benefits and factors to consider. Your vet will be able to discuss with you which is the best option for your dog. Options include:

• Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO)
• Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA)
• Extracapsular repair (suture technique)
• Tightrope technique
• Arthroscopy-assisted surgery

Non-surgical management

Non-surgical management is not recommended as often as the surgical option, but it is useful in smaller dogs or those for whom surgery isn’t viable due to health risks. In those cases your vet will look at managing pain, reducing inflammation and strengthening the muscles around the knee. They may recommend physiotherapy or hydrotherapy as well as weight management and physical or movement restriction. Some vets may also look at joint supplements or give you a brace to help support your dog’s poorly leg.

While non-surgical management can help with the symptoms and pain it may not fix the problem entirely. Larger or highly active dogs may still struggle with discomfort, making surgery a better long-term option. However, while it may not restore full mobility it can go a long way to improving their condition and quality of life.

Caring for your pet after ligament surgery

Undergoing any surgery can be traumatic for your pet and they’ll need lots of care and cuddles afterwards as they recover. Helping them get back to full health requires patience, consistency and a calm environment.

Rehabilitation and recovery

One of the most important things you can do is follow the post-op instructions closely to give your dog the best chance of recovery. This can help promote healing and reduce the risk of infection. It’s also a good idea to limit your dog’s activity and movement in the first few weeks, typically by crating them, using baby gates or keeping them in one, quiet room.

Pain management and anti-inflammatory medication are really important – make sure to follow your vet’s instructions precisely. Monitor the incision site for signs of infection and introduce activity gradually.

Always speak to your vet if you’re unsure about anything. They’ll be able to talk to you about introducing physiotherapy when the time is right.

Most importantly, be patient. It can take a while for your dog to recover but stick to the plan and with time they’ll soon regain strength and mobility.

Can ligament damage be prevented?

While not all ligament damage can be prevented, especially conditions caused by genetics or ageing, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk:

• Weight management – Making sure your pet remains a healthy weight can reduce the stress on their joints. Excess weight puts extra stress on the CCL
• Regular exercise – This keeps the muscles around the knee strong which supports the CCL. Avoid intense or repetitive activity and instead gradually increase activity over time to give your dog’s muscles time to adapt
• Joint health supplements – Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin can support joint health and may slow down ligament wear
• Prevent slips and falls – Use rugs and mats indoors, especially if you have wooden or tiled floors or your dog is very active inside
• Slow and controlled growth in puppies – Avoid overfeeding and rapid weight gain in your puppy to reduce stress on developing joints. Speak to your vet about proper nutrition and weight management so you get into good habits from the start

FAQs

Is ligament care covered under my insurance?

It’s often covered under accident or injury policies but you’ll need to check with your own insurer to be sure. Some policies have a waiting period of 12 months before you’re covered while others may exclude it and class it as a pre-existing condition if your dog has had CCL issues before.