Lecture 6: Patellar luxation (Exam 1) Flashcards
(63 cards)
What is a medial patellar luxation (MPL)
- Displacement of the patella from the trochlear sulcus (trochlear groove)
- Common cause of lameness in small breed dogs but can also occurs in large breed dogs
What musculoskeletal abnorms can px w/ patellar lux have
- Medial displacement of the quadriceps muscle group (lateral torsion or bowing of the distal femur) is the most common
- Femoral epiphyseal dysplasia
- Rotational instability of the stifle joint
- Tibial deformity
What doe femoral deformities w/ medial displacement of the quadriceps apparatus produce
- Pressure diffs on the distal femoral physis
- Decreased length of medial cortex w/ increased length of lateral cortex = lateral bowing of the distal femur
- Abnorm growth cont while quadriceps displaced & physes is active
> pressure on the medial aspect & < pressure on the lateral aspect leads to what
Less growth on the medial aspect & more growth on the lateral aspect
What does the degree of lateral bowing depend on
- The severity of patellar luxation
- Px age @ luxation
Describe mild luxations
- Quadriceps rarely displaced medially
- Min effect on distal femoral physis
Describe severe lux
- Quadriceps medially displaced all times
- Max effect on distal femoral physis
What causes tibial deformities
- Abnorm forces on the proximal & distal physes of the tibia
- Medial displacement of the tibial tuberosity
- Medial bowing (varus deformity) of the proximal tibia
- Lateral torsion of the distal tibia
describe femoral epiphyseal dysplasia
- Articular cartilage (AC) responds to increased or decreased pressure like the metaphyseal physis
- Dogs w/ MPLs have abnorm dev of the trochlear groove
- Articulation of the patella w/in the trochlear groove puts pressure on the AC & decreases its growth
- If pressure exerted by the patella is not present on trochlear ac the trochlea fails to gain proper depth
What is responsible for dev of norm depth of the trochlear groove
Pressure by the pattela
What is seen in immature px w/ mild lux
- Show min loss of depth to the trochlear groove
- Patella is norm positioned during dev
What is seen in immature px w/ severe lux
- No trochlear groove
- Norm pressure responsible for groove dev is not present
What are the grades of patellar lux
- I
- II
- III
- IV
Describe a grade I patellar lux
- Patella in groove
- Can be forced out but comes back in immediately
Describe a grade II patellar lux
- Patella in the groove
- Sometimes comes out but comes back in every time
Describe a grade III patellar lux
- Patella NOT in the groove
- Can be forced in but comes out again almost immed
Describe a grade IV patellar lux
- Patella not in groove
- Can’t be moved back in w/o sx
What is the typical signalment of px w/ MPL
- Small & toy breed dogs most affectd
- Large dogs higher percentage of lateral lux
What is the typical hx of px w/ MPL
- Intermittent wt bearing lameness
- Dog occasionally holds the lg in flexed position for 1 or 2 steps
- Grade IV have severe lameness & gait abnorms
How is MPL dx
Based on finding or eliciting MPL during PE
What will be seen in PE if the px has a grade I lux
- No lameness
- Dx incidental finding
What will be seen in PE if the px has a grade II lux
- Occasional “skipping” when walking or running
- Occasionally stretch lateral retinacular structures & dev NWBL
What will be seen in PE if the px has a grade III lux
- Lameness varies
- Occasional skip to wt. bearing lameness
What will be seen in PE if the px has a grade IV lux
- Walk w/ rear quarters in a crouched position (inability to extend the stifle joints fully
- Patella is hypoplastic
- Patella found displaced medially alongside the femoral condyle