The effect of intercondylar notchplasty on the normal canine stifle

This study evaluated the effect of notchplasty (enlargement of the intercondylar fossa) in stable and unstable canine stifles. Bilateral notchplasty and unilateral cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) transection were performed in 6 dogs. Exercise, consisting of walking 1.5 miles three times a week, began 1 month after surgery and continued until euthanasia 6 months after surgery. Evaluation methods included orthopedic examination, serial radiographs, thin section radiography, histopathology, and gross pathology. Notchplasty in the stable stifle did not cause lameness beyond 3 weeks, joint instability, or degenerative joint disease. In the stable stifle, smooth resurfacing of the notchplasty site with fibrous and osseous tissue occurred. Stifles with notchplasty and CrCL transection exhibited persistent lameness, instability, and degenerative joint disease. In CrCL deficient stifles osteophytes formed within the notchplasty site, resulting in a rough surface. Our observations indicated significant refilling in notchplasties of both stable and unstable stifles (P < .05). However, the intercondylar fossa (ICF) width 6 months after notchplasty was significantly smaller in unstable stifles compared with stable stifles (P < .05) indicating that greater refilling of the notchplasties occurred in the unstable stifles. In clinical cases, notchplasty should be larger than the desired final result to accomodate the partial refilling that occurs even in stable stifles.