33rd Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objective
To assess whether caudomedial joint line palpation of the stifle is correlated with medial meniscal injury in canine stifles with concurrent cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD).

Study Design
Clinical retrospective study

Sample Population
A total of 91 dogs (97 stifles) with CCLD

Materials and Methods
Dogs presenting with CCLD were assessed by palpation of the caudomedial joint line of the affected stifle. Results were recorded as present or absent pain. Presence of medial meniscal injury was assessed via arthroscopy or arthrotomy. The odds ratio for medial meniscal tear was estimated via a backward stepwise binary logistic regression model. The significance level was set at p = 0.05. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were calculated by 2×2 tabulation of outcome (meniscal tear) against pain on caudomedial joint line palpation.

Results
Presence of pain on caudomedial joint line palpation was shown to have 125 times (95% CL 9.71-125) higher odds to have a meniscal tear. Pain on caudomedial joint line palpation had a sensitivity of 0.86, specificity of 0.85, PPV of 0.94, NPV of 0.70 and accuracy of 0.86 for the diagnosis of meniscal injury.

Conclusion
Medial joint line tenderness has excellent correlation with a medial meniscal tear in dogs with CCLD.  This result will allow clinicians more confidence in diagnosing medial meniscal injuries prior to surgery.