PATELLAR LUXATION IN SMALL BREED DOGS: SECRET TIPS for CASE SELECTION and SURGICAL TREATMENT

The patella is an ossification in the tendon of insertion of the quadriceps muscle group. The patella articulates with the concave femoral trochlea, bounded medially and laterally by ridges (Fig 1). The patello-femoral articulation functions as a simple pulley to alter the direction of the quadriceps muscle pull to accomplish stifle extension. The quadriceps group converges on the patella and continues as the patellar ligament to insert on the tibial tuberosity. Proper anatomic alignment of the quadriceps/patellar mechanism with the underlying skeleton fosters proper patellar tracking. The patella is surrounded by attachments of joint capsule, retinaculum and medial/lateral femoropatellar ligaments whose balanced tension helps maintain normal patellar position. […]