Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (LCCr) is one of the most common causes of lameness in dogs. It generates joint instability, leading to a degeneration of the affected knee. It is thought that most LCCr rupture cases are due to progressive degeneration along with mild traumas. The diagnosis is primarily based on orthopedic examination and X-rays of the knee; a positive drawer test is important to detect total rupture of LCCr. On the other hand, partial LCCr injuries are difficult to diagnose, so arthroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging have been increasingly used as diagnostic methods in recent years. Many surgical procedures have been described to stabilize the affected knee in the last decades. Such treatments can be divided into intra-articular procedures, extra-articular methods and proximal tibial osteotomies. Despite important scientific developments in recent years regarding this disease there is no treatment to prevent secondary diseases following LCCr rupture, such as osteo-arthrosis and meniscus injuries. The aim of this paper is to provide a brief review of the current literature related to the rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs.
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