Peak Vertical Force and Vertical Impulse in Dogs With Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Meniscal Injury

Objective To compare the peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) in dogs with naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease with or without concurrent meniscal injury. Study Design Prospective case series. Study Population Client-owned dogs with naturally occurring CCL disease. Methods Dogs with hind limb lameness because of CCL disease that required surgery underwent force plate gait analysis. Force plate analysis was performed at a walking gait (speed 1–1.3 m/s; acceleration ±0.5 m/s2) and data were analyzed using commercial proprietary software. Meniscal injury was diagnosed either by mini-arthrotomy or arthroscopy. The primary outcome was PVF and the secondary outcome was VI. Comparisons were made between dogs with or without meniscal injury, and dogs with partial or complete CCL rupture. Results Forty dogs were included. Meniscal injury was present in 18/40 dogs (45%). PVF (P = .003) and VI (P = .01) were significantly lower in dogs with meniscal injury than in dogs without meniscal injury. Conclusion Dogs with CCL disease and medial meniscal injury had significantly reduced PVF and VI.