[Arthroscopic studies of the stifle of dogs]

Diagnosis by arthroscopy and arthrotomy of 36 dogs with stifle lesions (18 left, 18 right) assessed by physical and radiological examination were compared. 48 of 68 observations during arthrotomy had been diagnosed before by arthroscopy (accuracy 70.6%). Arthroscopical diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACL) (n = 11), partial ACL (n = 11), avulsion of m. extensor digitorum longum (n = 2) and immune-mediated arthritis (n = 2) confirmed the diagnosis by arthrotomy in all patients. Arthroscopy failed to detect meniscal lesions in 50% (18 of 36). Nine of 20 normal medial and lateral meniscus, eight of 14 medial and one of two lateral meniscal lesions were detected by arthroscopy. Six meniscal tears (two transverse, two longitudinal, one bucket-handle type, one caudal horn) were not diagnosed. These results indicate that other known human portals have to be proven or new portals have to be evaluated.