Ligament sprains are classified as Grade I through III, depending on the severity of the matrix damage, and are defined biomechanically. Grade I sprains do not affect joint instability and are associated with subfailure damage to the ligament tissue.'Grade II sprains are associated with moderate fiber damage and a stretch to the point of detectable instability. Grade III sprains are associated with severe disruption of ligament fibers and obvious joint laxity.1 Consequently, dogs with a stable stifle have partial CR and dogs with an unstable stifle have complete CR. Fiber damage to both the cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments (CrCL, CaCL) may be present in dogs with partial CR. Historically, cruciate ligament rupture (CR) has been classified as partial or complete based on an anatomic definition in many reports. In human beings, assessment and grading of partial anterior cruciate ligament injuries is also a challenge, as these lesions may involve a variable amount of the cross-section of the ligament during arthroscopic evaluation.
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