Thermographic Evaluation of the Stifle Region in Dogs with a Rupture of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament

Canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is a common orthopedic condition leading to stifle joint dysfunction, discomfort, and reduced mobility. Diagnosis typically involves radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the use of infrared thermography in assessing local temperature and thermal patterns in dogs with acute-onset lameness due to CCL rupture compared to those with intact ligaments.

The study involved 12 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and nine dogs with intact ligaments. The stifle area of all dogs was clipped and scanned using a FLIR E50 thermographic camera. Two regions of interest (ROI), designated El1 and Bx1, were analyzed with FLIR Tools software 5.X by comparing the average of the maximum and of the mean temperature values between the two groups.

Thermal imaging revealed differences between the two groups of dogs, which were further supported by significantly higher temperatures in the El1 (lateral aspect of the stifle joint) and Bx1 (cranial aspect of the stifle joint) areas in the study group compared to the control group using a comparative analysis-two-sample t-test. In the El1 area, the study group showed a temperature increase of 1.8 °C compared to the control group, while in the Bx1 area, the difference was 1.76 °C.

Infrared thermography shows potential to differentiate dogs with acute-onset lameness due to CCL rupture from dogs with intact ligaments, but further studies are needed to assess its accuracy in distinguishing it from other stifle pathologies.