Estudo retrospectivo de cães portadores de ruptura de ligamento cruzado (2008-2012)

Abstract

The cruciate ligament rupture (CLR), one of the most common injuries in the hindlimbs promote joint instability, resulting in claudication, and degenerative joint disease of the dog knee. The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of the dogs attended with CLR at Santa Maria’s Federal University Veterinary Hospital from January 2008 to October 2012. During the research, it was considered sex, weight, age, etiology, and breed. The data were obtained from 53 animal medical records diagnosed with CLR. The results showed that the females were the most affected. The dogs with an average weight of six kilograms were the more prevalent. The average age at which rupture occurred was 6.22 years. Chronic rupture (58%) was more frequent than acute (42%). There was a significant correlation (p = 0.02), (r = -0.48) in animals who had CLR acutely at the variables age and weight. The study of variance showed that in heavier animals the injury occurred acutely (p = 0.03), while in the lightest ones it happened chronically. Regarding age, in older the dogs the CLR occurred in a chronic way (p = 0.001) and in the younger animals in the acute form. The most affected breeds were poodle (15.09%), labrador and cocker (7.54%), and chow-chow (5.66%). The increasing size and age are factors that trigger degeneration ligament and therefore favor the ligament rupture.