Step 2: About ACL/CCL Injuries

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), equivalent to the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL in people, is responsible for limiting hyperextension of the stifle, limiting internal rotation of the tibia in relation to the femur, and to prevent forward sliding/drawer motion of the tibia in relation to the femur. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is the most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs.

The underlying cause of CCLR in the majority of dogs is different than ACL injuries in most people. Whereas trauma is a common cause of ACL tears in people, CCLR in dogs is typically degenerative in nature. Some proposed predisposing factors for cruciate injuries in dogs include genetics, obesity, and poor fitness level, early neutering, excessive tibial plateau slope (TPS), immune-mediated disease, and bacterial presence within the joint. Young to middle-aged, female, large breed dogs are at greatest risk for tearing their CCL, though any dog can develop a CCLR. However, as with ACL tears in people, acute traumatic ruptures can also occur.

Though the underlying cause of the disease may be different in each dog, the anatomy of the joint may play a role in the continued breakdown of the ligament. Due to the slope of the top of the tibia, or the tibial plateau, the cranial cruciate ligament of the dog is under stress during weight bearing as it attempts to keep the femur and the tibia in appropriate alignment. Once the integrity of the ligament is compromised, the tibia begins to move forward in relation to the femur during weight bearing. There is some evidence that the steeper the tibial plateau slope, the greater the likelihood of a dog developing a CCLR. The instability that develops is partly responsible for the pain present in dogs with this injury. As the cruciate ligament tears, changes are also taking place in the joint leading to a loss of cartilage health early on and a complete loss of cartilage in end-stage arthritis. In most patients, once the degenerative process of the CCL begins, the ligament will go on to a complete tear.