Amy Rosenthal
My Pet's Brace Practitioner
The Patient
Wicca, a 109-pound Cane Corso from Canada with a Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) tear on her left hind leg
Type of Device
Jointed stifle brace
Case Report
Wicca is a large breed Cane Corso dog from Canada. At My Pet’s Brace, we ship leg braces all over the world once we receive a cast of the dog’s leg taken by your local vet or rehab professional. Wicca used her custom knee brace in conjunction with rehab therapies. This case shows how rehab can aid and improve a dog’s outcome with the assistance of a brace.
Diagnostic History: Wicca the Cane Corso started limping due to problems with her back leg in March 2018. It was determined that she had torn her left CCL. Her family wanted to pursue non-surgical and affordable treatment options. They contacted My Pet’s Brace and worked with their local vet to make an accurate cast of her leg. It was mailed to the My Pet’s Brace fabrication center in Morgantown, PA, in late September of 2018.
Due to the length of Wicca’s leg and her weight, it was concluded that her stifle brace required heavy-duty joints. For larger dogs, we use aluminum dual-axis joints with long aluminum arms to provide the necessary support.
The completed custom brace was mailed to Wicca’s veterinarian one week later for fitting. She was instructed to wear the brace for 6-9 months. We mailed Wicca a sheepskin pad to add to the bottom-most strap of the brace to solve a red spot on her hock.
The stifle brace is designed specifically for CCL injuries. An anterior strap is fitted to resist tibial thrust during extension. This resistance to the cranial movement of the tibia reduces the pressure that is put on the injured CCL and the scarification that is occurring. The brace is designed with hard physical stops that do not allow hyperextension of the stifle, further reducing the stress and strain on the ligament and the scar tissue forming in the stifle.
Follow-Ups: To further reduce limping and similar problems, this Cane Corso attended professional physical therapy sessions and participated in therapy at home during the use of her back leg brace. Sessions included hydrotherapy, cold laser treatments, cryotherapy, acupuncture, and special exercises. Wicca wore her stifle brace for six months. Her mom said, “Wicca is doing fabulous!! No more limping, not a lot of stiffness. She has gained a lot of muscle back in her leg—we try to hike six to eight km a day now—lots of hills and uneven terrain.”
This successful case study of a large Cane Corso finding relief from limping in her back leg with the use of a brace and therapy is a testament that not all CCL injuries require surgery. Contact My Pet’s Brace today if your dog has been diagnosed with a CCL tear.