What is Stifle Osteochondrosis?

Stifle osteochondrosis (OCD) is a developmental condition in which a section of bone under the cartilage in the knee doesn't convert to bone as it should. This leads to thickened cartilage which can separate from the adjacent bone, causing inflammation and pain.

It's believed to be a mix of genetics, rapid growth, nutrition, and trauma. It's more common in large and fast-growing breeds.

Diagnosing Stifle Osteochondrosis

1. Physical Examination: Assessing the limb for pain, swelling, or any lameness.
2. X-Rays: They provide insights into the knee’s bone structures, but early stages might not always show up.
3. CT Scan: For more subtle lesions, or where more planning is required, a CT scan gives a three-dimensional assessment of the joint.
4. Arthroscopy: A minimally invasive method, it gives a direct glimpse inside the joint to see the cartilage. Arthroscopy can also be used for treatment in some cases.

Arthroscopy & Treatment

What is Arthroscopy?

It uses a tiny camera (arthroscope) to obtain a clear view of the knee's inner structures.

How Does Arthroscopy Benefit?

Direct Diagnosis: Offers a precise evaluation of cartilage and any associated damage.

Immediate Treatment: Diseased cartilage can be promptly removed with specialized instruments, aiding the healing process. After removal of the abnormal cartilage, new fibrocartilage will fill the gap. This isn’t as functional as regular joint cartilage, but still provides a weight-bearing surface.

Arthroscopic treatment is best for relatively small lesions in the knee.

Advanced Treatment Options

For larger lesions, some dogs may still have lameness following arthroscopic treatment. In these patients, resurfacing the lesion with advanced techniques may offer a superior weight-bearing surface in the joint and a better outcome.

1. Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation (OATS): Taking healthy cartilage tissue from a non-weight-bearing area and grafting it to the affected site.
2. Synthetic Cartilage Replacement with SynACART: It's an innovative solution, acting as a synthetic cartilage to replace damaged areas, especially for large osteochondrosis lesions.

We can discuss the relative benefits of these procedures with you in detail.

Post-Treatment Care

Week 1-2: Limited movement. Brief, supervised outdoor breaks. Watch for any signs of infection or unusual changes at the incision site. We’ll see your pet at the 2-week mark to check on their progress and make sure the incisions are healing as expected.

Week 3-4: Slow reintroduction to walks, avoiding any jumps or intense play.

Week 5 onwards: Gradually returning to regular activities based on your vet's guidance. If OATS or SynACART was placed, we’ll take some radiographs to confirm that the grafts/implants are stable.

What is the expected prognosis?

Stifle OCD will unfortunately result in some osteoarthritis developing in the joint. The goal of surgery is to minimise the development of osteoarthritis.

We would recommend being proactive with keeping your dog to a lean bodyweight to help reduce the development of osteoarthritis. Some nutritional supplements may also be beneficial, such as omega-3 fatty acids, pentosan, and glucosamine-chondroitin. Your primary care veterinarian is in the best position to help guide this throughout your pet’s life.