Bilaterally altered hindlimb muscle function as assessed by acoustic myography in dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament disease.

Unilateral CCLD causes bilateral hindlimb muscle dysfunction with compensatory changes in the unaffected limb.

This study evaluated hindlimb muscle function in 21 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) using acoustic myography (AMG), a non-invasive technique measuring muscle activity patterns. Four stifle-related muscles were assessed bilaterally: vastus lateralis, cranial biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and cranial sartorius. Results demonstrated significantly reduced E-scores in both hindlimbs compared to healthy dogs, indicating less efficient muscle work overall. Notably, the unaffected hindlimb showed significantly lower S- and T-scores in the cranial sartorius, suggesting compensatory increased muscular effort. Gait analysis via pressure sensitive walkway confirmed asymmetric limb loading consistent with unilateral lameness. Limb circumference measurements also showed asymmetry. These findings reveal that unilateral CCLD produces bilateral neuromuscular changes, with the contralateral limb demonstrating adaptations to support the injured limb. This bilateral dysfunction has important implications for rehabilitation protocols and prognosis in CCLD patients.

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