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19.9 Patellar igament Pathology 339

lesions (Marino and Loughin 2010) and may offer a less costly and invasive method to establish a
diagnosis. Arthroscopy allows direct assessment of cartilage health in the joint and may also be
used to diagnose and immediately treat OCD.

19.9 Patellar Ligament Pathology

Pathology of the patellar ligament can be categorized into traumatic and nontraumatic etiolo -
gies. Nontraumatic patellar ligament desmopathy most commonly occurs in patients with a
history of corrective osteotomies for CCLD (Figure 19.19) and generally does not require surgi -
cal intervention. Traumatic injury may be iatrogenic or due to sharp trauma and generally
requires surgical apposition and external support. Patellar ligament rupture secondary to
administration of steroids (Smith et al. 2000) and fluoroquinolones (Cabassu et al. 2001) have
also been reported.

(A) (C) (E) STIFLE REGION

(B) (D) (F)

Figure 19.19 Examples of patellar desmopathies in five patients. Patient I (A, B) adult patient that
sustained patellar ligament rupture after surgical correction of patellar luxation. Note the (white arrow)
calcified and thickened patellar ligament. Patient II (C) typical (white arrow) patellar ligament thickening
after TPLO surgery. Patient III (D) traumatic fracture of the distal patella resulting in disruption of the
extensor mechanism. Patient IV (E) nontraumatic patellar desmopathy without a history of surgery. Note the
(white arrow) thickening and enthesopathy. Patient V (F) nontraumatic patellar desmopathy without a
history of surgery. Note the (white arrow) thickening and calcification of the patellar ligament.