Comparative Analysis of Vertical Forces in Dogs Affected with Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease and Tibial Plateau Angles Greater or Less than 25 Degrees.

Objective:  Our objective was to compare the peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) between dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease and a tibial plateau angle (TPA) greater or less than 25 degrees.

Methods:  A retrospective study was performed in 18 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease in which kinetic gait data were obtained with a pressure walkway system. Dogs were distributed in two groups: dogs with a TPA ≤ 25 degrees ( = 8) and dogs with a TPA > 25 degrees ( = 10). Mean PVF and VI in per cent of body weight (%BW) were compared between groups with an unpaired -test ( < 0.05).

Results:  Mean PVF and VI for the cranial cruciate ligament disease limb were 14.39%BW and 3.57%BWs for dogs with a TPA >25 degrees and 14.44%BW and 3.47%BWs for dogs with a TPA ≤ 25 degrees. There was no significant difference in mean PVF and VI between the groups.

Conclusion:  The results suggest that there is no difference in kinetic data between dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease and a TPA greater or less than 25 degrees. Other factors such as body weight, time of injury or meniscal lesion could be more related to the magnitude of cranial cruciate ligament disease lameness.