This thesis is an investigation of a gentamicin impregnated collagen sponge (GICS) product implanted into an inflamed canine stifle joint. Project goals were to determine the duration for which drug concentrations remained above minimal inhibitory concentrations within the joint following sponge implantation; to determine whether there was systemic exposure to the drug following local implantation; to evaluate the impact of the sponge on local joint inflammation and lameness; and to evaluate whether sponge use resulted in any renal injury. The study design was a randomized controlled experimental trial (2 x n=9) performed with research hounds. GICS were arthroscopically implanted at a dose of 6mg/kg. Pharmacokinetic parameters were modeled using statistical moment analyses. Joint inflammation was measured by synovial fluid cell counts and cytokine concentrations, lameness was measured by force plate asymmetry indices, and renal function was measured by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) study using technetium 99 plasma clearance. The prevalence of lesions associated with aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity was assessed by renal biopsy and electronmicroscopy. Intra-articular gentamicin concentrations fell to sub-MIC for Staphylococcus sp. (4ug/ml) by 22.4hrs (95% CI=18.6-26.2) following sponge implantation. Cmax synovial was 2397ug/ml (95% CI=1161-3634 ug/ml) at 1.2 hrs (95% CI=0.5-1.8hrs). Plasma gentamicin concentrations achieved levels of Cmax plasma =8.0ug/ml (95% CI=6.1-10.0 ug/ml) at 1.5hrs (95% CI=0.8-2.1) following GICS placement and fell below target trough of 2.0ug/ml by 5.6hrs (95% CI=4.7-6.5hrs) following GICS placement. GICS implantation caused joint inflammation (p<0.01), lameness (p=0.04), and decreased GFR (p=0.04). No dog developed clinical renal failure. No difference was observed in the prevalence of renal lesions on biopsy between treatment and control group (p=0.49). Intra-articular gentamicin concentration following GICS placement at an IV-equivalent dose reached high levels and declined rapidly. The maximum plasma levels attained were approximately 1/3rd of the recommended sub-toxic target for human patients following parenteral gentamicin administration. GICS implantation in the inflamed joint caused additional inflammation and joint dysfunction that is likely to be of clinical relevance. GICS implantation affected renal function at the dose assessed. Renal effects may be exacerbated in septic patients, and care should be taken with GICS dosing in clinical patients. / Pet Trust

Objective – 1) To determine whether a graft of fascia lata and part of the patellar ligament, used in an extracapsular fashion from the tibial crest to the femorofabellar ligament, would eliminate abnormal cranial drawer motion in the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficient stifle 2) To determine if two new tibial suture anchor points would enhance biomechanical function of the lateral fabellar-tibial suture (FTS). Study Design – Experimental. Animals – 28 canine cadaver hind limbs. Methods – Stifles were mounted in a jig that allowed tibial rotation during loading and were tested between loads of â 65 to 80 N in caudal and cranial drawer respectively. Stifles were tested with the CrCL intact followed by one of four stabilization techniques after CrCL transection: lateral graft technique (LGT) and three FTS with different tibial anchor points. Results – Differences in cranial drawer motion (displacement) and stiffness between the LGT and standard FTS were not significant in two data sets, when compared to the intact CrCL. The FTS with the anchor point in the tibial crest showed the least displacement of all stabilization methods. Differences in stiffness were not significant between the stabilization techniques. Conclusions – Stability provided by the LGT is comparable to that of the standard FTS for the CrCL-deficient stifle in the cadaver. Altering the tibial anchor points for the FTS did not improve stiffness or result in a further decrease in cranial drawer motion. Clinical Relevance – The LGT could be used for the treatment of acute and chronic CrCL ruptures in the dog. A clinical study is recommended. / Master of Science

Objective: To characterize the effect of the Ruby Joint Stabilization System (Ruby) on the motion of the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficient stifle. To compare the motion with the Ruby to that of the CrCL-intact and CrCL-deficient stifle. Study Design: Each canine pelvic limb was mounted in a loading jig under 30% body weight. Motion data was collected using an electromagnetic tracking system at stifle angles of 125o, 135o and 145o with the CrCL-intact, CrCL-deficient and the Ruby applied. Results: Total translation of the CrCL-deficient stifle following the Ruby was reduced, but remained greater than the CrCL-intact stifle at angles of 125o, 135o and 145o. Internal rotation of the Ruby groups was greater than the CrCL-intact group at 145o, but not 125o and 135o. Varus motion of the Ruby group was decreased compared to the CrCL-deficient group, but increased compared to the CrCL-intact group at angles of 125o, 135o and 145o. Conclusion: Total translation and internal rotation of the CrCL-deficient stifle following the Ruby differed from that of the CrCL-intact stifle. However, the Ruby reduced total translation and internal rotation of the tibia relative to the femur in the CrCL-deficient stifle to levels that may yield clinically acceptable results. / Master of Science / Cranial cruciate ligament disease is a common pathology of the canine stifle. Loss of this ligament results in instability of the stifle that results in pain and osteoarthritis, and can lead to damage of other intra-articular structures like the menisci. An abundant number of surgical procedures are described, with the goal of surgery being the restoration of normal stifle stability and function. A common surgical procedure for treatment is the lateral suture technique, which is an extracapsular method of stabilization. This procedure faces many complications; however, it remains a popular choice of stabilization due to its lower cost and less invasive nature. The Ruby Joint Stabilization procedure is a method of extracapsular repair that aims to restore stifle stability and circumvent several complications that plague the lateral suture. This cadaveric study sought to investigate how stifle motion of the normal canine stifle compared to that of the cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifle with the Ruby Joint Stabilization System applied. The results of this investigation demonstrated that the Ruby Joint Stabilization System adequately restored stifle motion to a level that could yield clinically acceptable results, as was demonstrated in a previously published clinical investigation of this technique.

A grande casuística relacionada à afecção ortopédica denominada ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial na articulação fêmoro tíbio patelar canina tem gerado diversos estudos avaliando a biomecânica articular, fatores extrínsecos ao paciente e características metabólicas que poderiam influenciar na predisposição e no prognóstico dos pacientes acometidos por esta afecção. As dificuldades em identificar os diferentes níveis de instabilidade articular durante o diagnóstico e de estabilidade após o tratamento proposto, seja cirúrgico ou conservativo, provocou o desenvolvimento de diversas técnicas visando um melhor diagnóstico e estabilização articular pós operatória. Apesar da ampla variedade de técnicas cirúrgicas atualmente descritas para a insuficiência do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCC) em cães o tratamento ideal para esta freqüente condição ortopédica permanece indeterminado. Foram avaliados através da termografia infravermelha 30 pacientes caninos acima de 20 quilos sendo divididos em três grupos, o primeiro composto por dez animais hígidos onde foram analisados termograficamente os joelhos bilaterais a fim de padronizar valores térmicos de joelhos caninos normais, o segundo grupo composto por dez pacientes diagnosticados com instabilidade da articulação fêmoro tíbio patelar unilateral que foram submetidos a técnica cirúrgica de TTA para estabilização articular e o terceiro grupo composto por dez animais com diagnóstico de instabilidade da articulação fêmoro tíbio patelar unilateral que foram submetidos a técnica cirúrgica de TPLO para estabilização articular. Os grupos TTA e TPLO foram avaliados termograficamente em período pré operatório e nos momentos 30, 60 e 90 dias de pós operatório. Aos 30 dias de pós operatório houve diferença estatística com o grupo TPLO obtendo valores superiores ao grupo TTA. No período de 60 e 90 dias, não encontramos diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos valores comparativos dos membros operados em relação ao contralateral hígido podendo indicar que as duas técnicas cirúrgicas são capazes de trazer a articulação operada a uma condição de normalidade do ponto de vista termográfico. / The large number of cases related to the orthopedic condition called cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs has generated several studies evaluating the joint biomechanics, metabolic and environment characteristics that could influence the susceptibility and prognosis of patients affected by this condition. The difficulties in identifying the different levels of joint instability during diagnosis and joint stability after surgical or conservative treatment led to the development of several surgical techniques aiming a better diagnosis and joint stabilization. Despite the wide variety of surgical techniques currently described for the insufficiency of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs the ideal treatment for this common orthopedic condition remains uncertain. We evaluated using infrared thermography 30 canine patients over 20 kg. They were separated into three groups: the first group were consisted of ten healthy dogs, where we evaluated thermographycally their bilateral stifle in order to acquire thermal values of normal canine knees, the second group had ten patients diagnosed with instability of one stifle and were operated using the surgical technique called TTA and the third group were consisted of ten animals with a diagnosis of instability of unilateral stifle who underwent surgical procedure using the surgical technique called TPLO. The TTA and TPLO groups were evaluated thermographycally before surgery and at times 30, 60 and 90 days postoperatively. At 30 days evaluation we found significant differences between the TPLO and the TTA groups. At 60 and 90 days evaluation there were no significant differences between the operated limb in both groups and their contralateral not affected stifle. This results may indicate that both surgical techniques can bring the stifle back to normal thermographic parameters.

Orientador: Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado / Banca: Sheila Canevese Rahal / Banca: Carlos Roberto Teixeira / Banca: Bruno Watanabe Minto / Banca: Taís Harumi de Castro Sasahara / Resumo: A descrição morfológica da paca pode facilitar sua exploração econômica racional e preservação da espécie. Além disso, devido ao interesse dos pesquisadores por novos modelos experimentais de cirurgia, em especial para reconstrução das estruturas do joelho, objetivou-se com o presente estudo, descrever a anatomia do joelho da paca. Neste contexto, a articulação do joelho foi dissecada para identificar as estruturas presentes; foi verificada a ocorrência de tecido ósseo nos meniscos, e realizada análise histológica e ultraestrutural dos ligamentos colaterais e meniscos. No joelho da paca foram identificados os ligamentos cruzados cranial e caudal; o ligamento meniscofemoral; os ligamentos colaterais lateral e medial; os ligamentos meniscotibiais craniais dos meniscos medial e lateral; o ligamento meniscotibial caudal do menisco medial; o ligamento patelar; a patela; os ossos sesamóides do músculo gastrocnêmio lateral e medial, e os meniscos lateral e medial. Os ligamentos colaterais são constituídos por feixes de fibras colágenas arranjadas paralelamente e com trajeto ondulado. Os fibroblastos formavam fileiras paralelas às fibras colágenas, dos ligamentos colaterais, com citoplasma imperceptível à avaliação por microscopia de luz, mas, em análise ultraestrutural verificou-se vários prolongamentos citoplasmáticos. Os meniscos destes animais são fibrocartilaginosos e apresentam na região cranial uma ossificação. As estruturas presentes no joelho da paca assemelham-se aos dos animais domésticos, roedores e lagomorfos. Os ligamentos colaterais e os meniscos são estruturalmente semelhantes aos ligamentos e meniscos do joelho dos animais domésticos, roedores e lagomorfos. Porém, o menisco da paca apresenta lúnula / Abstract: Paca morphological description may facilitate their rational economical exploitation and specie preservation. The researches interest by novel surgical experimental models, focus specially by joint stifle reconstruction, also motivated the present study in describing the anatomy of the paca stifle. In this context, the stifle joint was dissected in order to identify the structures. It was observed tissue bone in meniscus and the histological and ultrastructural analysis of collateral ligament and menisci were performed. The cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments; the meniscofemoral ligament; the lateral and medial collateral ligaments; cranial meniscotibial ligaments of the medial and lateral menisci; caudal meniscotibial ligament of the medial meniscus; patellar ligament; patella, the lateral and medial sesamoid bones of the gastrocnemius muscle and the lateral and medial menisci. The collateral ligaments are composed of crimp collagen fiber bundles arranged in parallel. The fibroblasts were aligned with the collagen fibers. The cytoplasm was unable to be noticed by light microscopy, but ultrastructural analysis showed a large amount of citoplasmatic projections. The menisci of these animals are fibrocartilaginous with bone tissue cranially. The paca stifle joint structures are similar to the domestic animals, rodents and lagomorphs. Collateral ligaments and menisci are structurally similar to the domestic animals, rodents and lagomorphs. However the paca meniscus has lunula / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-06-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:20:09Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_a_dr_jabo.pdf: 565683 bytes, checksum: 80bdf869b7e9328e066b0dd4ffc4fdf6 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A descrição morfológica da paca pode facilitar sua exploração econômica racional e preservação da espécie. Além disso, devido ao interesse dos pesquisadores por novos modelos experimentais de cirurgia, em especial para reconstrução das estruturas do joelho, objetivou-se com o presente estudo, descrever a anatomia do joelho da paca. Neste contexto, a articulação do joelho foi dissecada para identificar as estruturas presentes; foi verificada a ocorrência de tecido ósseo nos meniscos, e realizada análise histológica e ultraestrutural dos ligamentos colaterais e meniscos. No joelho da paca foram identificados os ligamentos cruzados cranial e caudal; o ligamento meniscofemoral; os ligamentos colaterais lateral e medial; os ligamentos meniscotibiais craniais dos meniscos medial e lateral; o ligamento meniscotibial caudal do menisco medial; o ligamento patelar; a patela; os ossos sesamóides do músculo gastrocnêmio lateral e medial, e os meniscos lateral e medial. Os ligamentos colaterais são constituídos por feixes de fibras colágenas arranjadas paralelamente e com trajeto ondulado. Os fibroblastos formavam fileiras paralelas às fibras colágenas, dos ligamentos colaterais, com citoplasma imperceptível à avaliação por microscopia de luz, mas, em análise ultraestrutural verificou-se vários prolongamentos citoplasmáticos. Os meniscos destes animais são fibrocartilaginosos e apresentam na região cranial uma ossificação. As estruturas presentes no joelho da paca assemelham-se aos dos animais domésticos, roedores e lagomorfos. Os ligamentos colaterais e os meniscos são estruturalmente semelhantes aos ligamentos e meniscos do joelho dos animais domésticos, roedores e lagomorfos. Porém, o menisco da paca apresenta lúnula / Paca morphological description may facilitate their rational economical exploitation and specie preservation. The researches interest by novel surgical experimental models, focus specially by joint stifle reconstruction, also motivated the present study in describing the anatomy of the paca stifle. In this context, the stifle joint was dissected in order to identify the structures. It was observed tissue bone in meniscus and the histological and ultrastructural analysis of collateral ligament and menisci were performed. The cranial and caudal cruciate ligaments; the meniscofemoral ligament; the lateral and medial collateral ligaments; cranial meniscotibial ligaments of the medial and lateral menisci; caudal meniscotibial ligament of the medial meniscus; patellar ligament; patella, the lateral and medial sesamoid bones of the gastrocnemius muscle and the lateral and medial menisci. The collateral ligaments are composed of crimp collagen fiber bundles arranged in parallel. The fibroblasts were aligned with the collagen fibers. The cytoplasm was unable to be noticed by light microscopy, but ultrastructural analysis showed a large amount of citoplasmatic projections. The menisci of these animals are fibrocartilaginous with bone tissue cranially. The paca stifle joint structures are similar to the domestic animals, rodents and lagomorphs. Collateral ligaments and menisci are structurally similar to the domestic animals, rodents and lagomorphs. However the paca meniscus has lunula

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-12-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:30:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 alvarez_lec_me_botfmvz.pdf: 249428 bytes, checksum: f35a467064df28dab9bd15b0a59c7dc4 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foi realizado estudo ultra-sonográfico de setenta e quatro articulações do joelho de eqüinos da raça Quarto de Milha, com o objetivo de avaliar e mensurar ligamentos, tendões e meniscos. O exame foi feito mediante abordagem sistemática, na qual foram obtidas as medidas de largura, espessura, perímetro e área dos ligamentos colaterais, patelares, meniscos e tendão de origem dos músculos extensor digital longo e fibular terceiro, bem como do recesso medial. Todos os ligamentos apresentaram ecogenicidade uniforme de grau 0. O padrão das fibras foi regular e homogêneo e as margens foram bem definidas. O menisco medial foi observado triangular, com leve concavidade da margem proximal e reto na margem distal. O menisco lateral apresentou-se triangular ou trapezóide e ambas as superfícies (proximal e distal) foram retas. A analise de variância mostrou diferenças significativas entre os valores das medias dos machos e fêmeas na origem dos ligamentos patelares medial e lateral, e tendão dos músculos extensor digital longo e fibular terceiro. Estas estruturas foram maiores em fêmeas que em machos. Na comparação entre membros esquerdos e direitos, foram achadas diferenças significativas na inserção do ligamento patelar intermédio, tendão dos músculos extensor digital longo e fibular terceiro e recesso medial. Os resultados do teste de Pearson mostraram correlação media e alta entre as variáveis de largura, espessura, perímetro e área dos ligamentos, meniscos, e tendão. Porém, não foi observada correlação entre peso com o resto das variáveis. A abordagem ultra-sonográfica sistemática permitiu visualização e mensuração dos tecidos moles do joelho avaliados neste estudo. / Seventy four stifle joints of American Quarter Horses were ultrasonographically imaged in order to evaluate and measure ligaments, tendons and menisci. Ultrasonographic examination was achieved using a systematic approach. Measures of width, thickness, perimeter and area of the femorotibial collateral and patellar ligaments, menisci, tendon of origin of the long digital extensor and peroneus tertius muscles, and medial recess were obtained. The ligaments and tendon had uniform grade-0 echogenicity. Fiber pattern was regular and homogeneous, and margins were well defined. Medial meniscus was triangular shaped, slightly concave at the proximal surface and flat at the distal surface. Lateral meniscus was triangular to trapezoidal and the proximal and distal surfaces were flat. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between mean values of males and females for the origin of the medial and lateral patellar ligaments, as well as tendon of origin of the long digital extensor and peroneus tertius muscles. These structures tended to be larger in females than in males. When comparison was made between left and right hindlimb, significant differences were found for the insertion of the intermediate patellar ligament, tendon of origin of the long digital extensor and peroneus tertius muscles and medial recess. Pearson’s correlation coefficients regarding width, thickness, perimeter and area of the ligaments, menisci, and tendon showed moderate to high correlation between variables. However, correlation between weight and other variables was not observed. Ultrasonography through systematic approach allowed imaging and measurement of the soft tissues of the stifle evaluated herein.

A grande casuística relacionada à afecção ortopédica denominada ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial na articulação fêmoro tíbio patelar canina tem gerado diversos estudos avaliando a biomecânica articular, fatores extrínsecos ao paciente e características metabólicas que poderiam influenciar na predisposição e no prognóstico dos pacientes acometidos por esta afecção. As dificuldades em identificar os diferentes níveis de instabilidade articular durante o diagnóstico e de estabilidade após o tratamento proposto, seja cirúrgico ou conservativo, provocou o desenvolvimento de diversas técnicas visando um melhor diagnóstico e estabilização articular pós operatória. Apesar da ampla variedade de técnicas cirúrgicas atualmente descritas para a insuficiência do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCC) em cães o tratamento ideal para esta freqüente condição ortopédica permanece indeterminado. Foram avaliados através da termografia infravermelha 30 pacientes caninos acima de 20 quilos sendo divididos em três grupos, o primeiro composto por dez animais hígidos onde foram analisados termograficamente os joelhos bilaterais a fim de padronizar valores térmicos de joelhos caninos normais, o segundo grupo composto por dez pacientes diagnosticados com instabilidade da articulação fêmoro tíbio patelar unilateral que foram submetidos a técnica cirúrgica de TTA para estabilização articular e o terceiro grupo composto por dez animais com diagnóstico de instabilidade da articulação fêmoro tíbio patelar unilateral que foram submetidos a técnica cirúrgica de TPLO para estabilização articular. Os grupos TTA e TPLO foram avaliados termograficamente em período pré operatório e nos momentos 30, 60 e 90 dias de pós operatório. Aos 30 dias de pós operatório houve diferença estatística com o grupo TPLO obtendo valores superiores ao grupo TTA. No período de 60 e 90 dias, não encontramos diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos valores comparativos dos membros operados em relação ao contralateral hígido podendo indicar que as duas técnicas cirúrgicas são capazes de trazer a articulação operada a uma condição de normalidade do ponto de vista termográfico. / The large number of cases related to the orthopedic condition called cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs has generated several studies evaluating the joint biomechanics, metabolic and environment characteristics that could influence the susceptibility and prognosis of patients affected by this condition. The difficulties in identifying the different levels of joint instability during diagnosis and joint stability after surgical or conservative treatment led to the development of several surgical techniques aiming a better diagnosis and joint stabilization. Despite the wide variety of surgical techniques currently described for the insufficiency of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs the ideal treatment for this common orthopedic condition remains uncertain. We evaluated using infrared thermography 30 canine patients over 20 kg. They were separated into three groups: the first group were consisted of ten healthy dogs, where we evaluated thermographycally their bilateral stifle in order to acquire thermal values of normal canine knees, the second group had ten patients diagnosed with instability of one stifle and were operated using the surgical technique called TTA and the third group were consisted of ten animals with a diagnosis of instability of unilateral stifle who underwent surgical procedure using the surgical technique called TPLO. The TTA and TPLO groups were evaluated thermographycally before surgery and at times 30, 60 and 90 days postoperatively. At 30 days evaluation we found significant differences between the TPLO and the TTA groups. At 60 and 90 days evaluation there were no significant differences between the operated limb in both groups and their contralateral not affected stifle. This results may indicate that both surgical techniques can bring the stifle back to normal thermographic parameters.

No description available.

Orientador: Luiz Carlos Vulcano / Banca: Ana Liz Garcia Alves / Banca: Stefano Carlo Filippo Hagen / Resumo: Foi realizado estudo ultra-sonográfico de setenta e quatro articulações do joelho de eqüinos da raça Quarto de Milha, com o objetivo de avaliar e mensurar ligamentos, tendões e meniscos. O exame foi feito mediante abordagem sistemática, na qual foram obtidas as medidas de largura, espessura, perímetro e área dos ligamentos colaterais, patelares, meniscos e tendão de origem dos músculos extensor digital longo e fibular terceiro, bem como do recesso medial. Todos os ligamentos apresentaram ecogenicidade uniforme de grau 0. O padrão das fibras foi regular e homogêneo e as margens foram bem definidas. O menisco medial foi observado triangular, com leve concavidade da margem proximal e reto na margem distal. O menisco lateral apresentou-se triangular ou trapezóide e ambas as superfícies (proximal e distal) foram retas. A analise de variância mostrou diferenças significativas entre os valores das medias dos machos e fêmeas na origem dos ligamentos patelares medial e lateral, e tendão dos músculos extensor digital longo e fibular terceiro. Estas estruturas foram maiores em fêmeas que em machos. Na comparação entre membros esquerdos e direitos, foram achadas diferenças significativas na inserção do ligamento patelar intermédio, tendão dos músculos extensor digital longo e fibular terceiro e recesso medial. Os resultados do teste de Pearson mostraram correlação media e alta entre as variáveis de largura, espessura, perímetro e área dos ligamentos, meniscos, e tendão. Porém, não foi observada correlação entre peso com o resto das variáveis. A abordagem ultra-sonográfica sistemática permitiu visualização e mensuração dos tecidos moles do joelho avaliados neste estudo. / Abstract: Seventy four stifle joints of American Quarter Horses were ultrasonographically imaged in order to evaluate and measure ligaments, tendons and menisci. Ultrasonographic examination was achieved using a systematic approach. Measures of width, thickness, perimeter and area of the femorotibial collateral and patellar ligaments, menisci, tendon of origin of the long digital extensor and peroneus tertius muscles, and medial recess were obtained. The ligaments and tendon had uniform grade-0 echogenicity. Fiber pattern was regular and homogeneous, and margins were well defined. Medial meniscus was triangular shaped, slightly concave at the proximal surface and flat at the distal surface. Lateral meniscus was triangular to trapezoidal and the proximal and distal surfaces were flat. Analysis of variance showed significant differences between mean values of males and females for the origin of the medial and lateral patellar ligaments, as well as tendon of origin of the long digital extensor and peroneus tertius muscles. These structures tended to be larger in females than in males. When comparison was made between left and right hindlimb, significant differences were found for the insertion of the intermediate patellar ligament, tendon of origin of the long digital extensor and peroneus tertius muscles and medial recess. Pearson's correlation coefficients regarding width, thickness, perimeter and area of the ligaments, menisci, and tendon showed moderate to high correlation between variables. However, correlation between weight and other variables was not observed. Ultrasonography through systematic approach allowed imaging and measurement of the soft tissues of the stifle evaluated herein. / Mestre