Search

This study aims to evaluate the morpho-functional change in the patellar ligament in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease. We hypothesized that it may show increased thickening and stiffness with increasing days from onset to diagnosis instead of trauma. Understanding this aspect has implications for the choice of timing for treating patients suffering from cranial cruciate ligament disease, as well as the contextualization of patellar ligament desmitis pictures after surgical treatment with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy or tibial tuberosity advancement. Thirty-three dogs affected by unilateral cranial cruciate disease were examined and divided into three groups based on the time elapsed from the onset of lameness to diagnosis: Group 1 (1–15 days), Group 2 (16–60 days), and Group 3 (over 60 days). Conventional B-mode ultrasonographic and elastosonographic examinations of the patellar ligament were performed without sedation for each dog. Upon ultrasonographic examination, all dogs showed modification in the echostructure of the patellar ligament. In addition, the patellar ligament tended to become harder with increasing days after disease, although there were no significant differences between groups. Our results show that as the time increases between the onset of cranial cruciate ligament disease and diagnosis and treatment, the patellar ligament progressively thickens and loses its elasticity.

Real-time elastosonography (RTE) is a recently described, non-invasive, ultrasonographic technique developed to assess tissue elasticity. The main aim of this study was to investigate the ultrasonographic and elastosonographic appearance of the common calcaneal tendon (CCT) in an ovine model, and to monitor the progression of tendon healing after an experimentally-induced tendinopathy. Sound tendons were initially evaluated (T0) with a caliper and by a single operator with ultrasound. Ultrasonographic and elastosonographic images were then acquired. Subsequently, ultrasound-guided tendon lesions were induced by injecting 500 IU of Type IA collagenases proximally to the calcaneal tuberosity. Caliper measurement, ultrasonography and elastosonography were then repeated at 15 (T1), 30 (T2) and 60 (T3) days. Clinically measured width of the tendon, ultrasonographic thickness and width and percentage of hard (Elx-t%hrd) and soft (Elx-t%sft) tissue were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed on the data collected; statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) revealed good (0.68) repeatability of elastosonographic evaluation of the CCT. The tendon width was significantly increased when comparing T0 with T1–2 and decreased when comparing T1–2 with T3. Ultrasound-assessed thickness was significantly increased between T0–T1 and decreased between T1-T2–3. Elx-t%hrd was significantly decreased at T1–2–3 and Elx-t%sft was significantly increased at T1–2–3. In conclusion, the ovine CCT is a highly stiff structure that undergoes a severe loss of stiffness during the healing process. Thickness and width of the tendon increased during the first 30 days and then reduced progressively along the subsequent 30 days. Ultrasonographic appearance of the tendon remained severely abnormal and the tendon showed severely reduced elastic proprieties 60 days after lesion induction.