Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament transection induces canine osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) transection in the canine knee can be an effective alternative method for creating canine osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

Six adult dogs underwent arthroscopic examination of the left knee with a 2.7 mm 30 degrees fiberoptic arthroscope. The articular surfaces of the femoral condyles, tibial plateaus, and patella were examined for evidence of OA. The ACL was directly visualized and transected. Care was taken to avoid iatrogenic articular cartilage injury. The animals were sacrificed 2 to 6 months after ACL transection. Both the ACL transected and ACL intact knees from each animal were assessed for gross pathology and histology.

RESULTS

The dogs experienced minimal perioperative pain and rapidly returned to their preinjury level of activity. Gross and histological examination of articular cartilage confirmed this approach induced OA in every ACL transected knee. No contralateral ACL intact knee developed degenerative OA changes.

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic ACL transection is an effective method for creating canine OA. This approach has several methodological advantages relative to other techniques.