Evaluation of fibular head transposition, lateral fabellar suture, and conservative treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in large dogs: a retrospective study

Sixty-one large dogs (weighing 22.7 kg or more) with cranial cruciate ligament ruptures (CCLRs) were treated with either fibular head transpositions (FHTs; n = 22 stifles), lateral fabellar sutures (LFSs; n = 39 stifles), or conservatively (CT; n = 11 stifles) with rest and aspirin. Based on owner evaluation, dogs treated with FHTs or CT did not perform as well as dogs treated with LFSs (p less than 0.05). There was no difference in owner evaluation scores for the dogs treated with FHTs or CT. Thirty dogs were reevaluated by investigators. No differences between treatment groups regarding age, sex, or time until diagnosis were noted. No differences in scores for lameness, stifle instability, or forceplate analysis among the treatment groups were observed. Degenerative joint disease progressed or remained severe regardless of treatment, based upon radiographic evidence.