Canine cruciate ligament ruptures: Implications for financial costs and human health

Sharon A. Toth, Michael I. Siegel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs is homologous to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. Factors that place an individual at-risk for noncontact ruptures are not clearly defined in humans or dogs. Cyclic variation in human females as well as early spay/neuter in canines has frequently implicated hormonal variation, however these factors do not fully explain the human dimorphic or canine breed rupture rates. The present study examined dogs as a proxy model for humans to better understand the covariance. A random clinical data sample from the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Hospital was obtained on (n = 29) CCL surgical cases and nonsurgical (n = 28) controls. A statistical test for association of spay/neuter with CCL rupture was significant (chi-square = 21.7, p <.01). Sex balance between the groups was not significantly (p >.01) different. Data on other variables related to morphometric variability such as the tibial plateau angle was not available on the nonsurgical sample and comparisons could only be made to values from the literature. Though there may have been sample bias, this preliminary study found that more large than small dogs were represented in the surgical sample. Our results also support the claim that spayed/neutered dogs are more likely to rupture their CCL than intact dogs. Given the high costs of surgical repair, both for canines and humans, we argue for multivariate studies that investigate the interaction of variables in a larger subject sample which can provide comparable data on all parameters.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)222-230
Number of pages9
JournalAnatomical Record
Volume304
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2021
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology
  • Anatomy
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Histology

Keywords

  • anterior cruciate ligament
  • cranial cruciate ligament
  • hormones
  • patellar luxation
  • tibial plateau angle

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