Diagnostic or therapeutic arthroscopy of stifle joint (SJ) was performed in 51 dogs. Animals were submitted to general anesthesia and ringer lactate solution was injected for articular distention after synovial fluid punction. SJ was divided in five main areas according to endoscopies: suprapatellar pouch, femuropatellar joint, medial compartment, intercondilar notch and lateral compartment. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture was most frequent (46 cases) detected pathology. In three cases it was related to medial meniscus prolapse. Synovitis was observed in three cases and dissecant osteocondrosis of the lateral femure condyle in two animals. Difficulties for arthroscope introduction, visualization of the structures and excessive infiltration of the subcutaneous tissue were complications observed. It was also noted a case of severe tissue necrosis. In chronic cases, the observation of the structures was affected by the presence of cellular elements. Images magnification allowed the diagnosis of the lesions that was not clear by either clinical or radiographic examinations.
dog; arthroscopy; stifle joint
