The Breed Specific Degeneration of Tendons as the Physiological Background of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease in Certain Dog Breeds

The cranial cruciate disease concerning the ultrastucture and function of the cranial cruciate ligaments is one of the most frequent orthopedic disorders affecting the hind limbs of dogs and cats. Despite its high incidence and economic impact in fields of veterinary physiology and orthopedic surgery, neither its aethiopathogenesis nor its development is completely understood. The stifle joint is one of the most complex constructions, combining macro and microscopic units interacting in their entirety, assigned to allow the animal an optimum power translation for implenting species specifc movement sequences. Controversial assumptions about chronic degenerative changes consequently leading to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament versus acute traumatic induced ruptures facilitated by certain external and internal risk factors are discussed in research since 1987. A state of the art illustration of current research results in terms of pathogenesis and treatment is therefore my privilege (1-4)