In vitro evaluation of the relationship between the semitendinosus muscle and cranial cruciate ligament in canine cadavers

Objective—To evaluate the role of the semitendinosus muscle in stabilization of the canine stifle joint. Sample—Left stifle joints collected from cadavers of 8 healthy Beagles. Procedures—Left hind limbs, including the pelvis, were collected. To mimic the tensile force of the quadriceps, gastrocnemius, and semitendinosus muscles, wires were placed under strain between the ends of each muscle. A sensor was used to measure the tensile force in each wire. Specimens were tested in the following sequence: cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) intact, CrCL transected, released (tensile force of semitendinosus muscle was released in the CrCL-transected stifle joint), and readjusted (tensile force of semitendinosus muscle was reapplied in the CrCL-transected stifle joint). Specimens were loaded at 65.3% of body weight, and tensile force in the wires as well as the cranial tibial displacement were measured. Results—Tensile force for the CrCL-transected condition increased significantly, compared with that for the CrCL-...