This study evaluated the effect of two suture materials, stainless steel wire and polypropylene, on the stifle joint biomechanics by means of analysis of the instantaneous center of motion after stabilization of cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifle with the fabelo-tibial suture technique. The instantaneous center of motion and resulting velocity vectors were determined by radiographic examination of the stifle joint in twelve dogs before and after cranial cruciate ligament transection, and after joint stabilization. All the stifles showed normally positioned instantaneous centers of motion and velocity vectors before cranial cruciate ligament transection. Eleven joints had abnormally positioned velocity vectors after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament. After joint stabilization, four joints in the stainless steel wire suture group continued showing abnormal velocity vectors, while all stifles joints in the polypropylene group had normal positioned velocity vectors. The polypropylene suture is more adequate for extra-articular stabilization as it maintains the normal joint biomechanics.
surgery; biomechanics; orthopedics
