Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease (CCL or Torn ACL) in Cats

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Last updated on
5 min read

Key takeaways


Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is a common cause of hindlimb lameness in cats, but is overall uncommon in cats. 

  • The cranial cruciate ligament is one of the primary stabilizers of the knee joint 
  • CCL disease occurs either due to injury or degeneration of the ligament, causing knee instability, pain, and lameness
  • Symptoms include lameness of the affected limb which may be gradually progressive, or sudden onset severe lameness, standing with the toes of the affected leg touching the ground but not fully weight bearing
  • Diagnosis  involves physical examination, X-rays, MRI or CT scan of the knee joint
  • Treatment involves rest, pain relief in the short term, and surgical stabilization of the knee joint
  • Prognosis for resolution of lameness is good but most cases develop subsequent osteoarthritis which sometimes requires ongoing medical management
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A closer look: Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease (CCL or Torn ACL) in Cats


The cranial cruciate ligament is a strand of connective tissue in the leg that stabilizes the knee joint. In humans, this ligament is known as the ACL, so many people incorrectly call CCL disease or a torn CCL or ACL in cats. Cats with CCL disease experience pain and loss of function of the affected leg.

Prognosis is good, most cats return to the equivalent levels of exercise seen before the onset of CCL disease with surgical therapy, and usually have a faster recovery than those treated conservatively.

Cats with suspected CCL disease benefit from prompt veterinary attention.

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Risk factors


Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is uncommon in cats. However, it is more common in old and obese, or young, active cats. Symptoms vary depending on the underlying disease process.

Traumatic rupture of the ligament presents with sudden onset, severe lameness which gradually improves whereas degenerative CCL disease results in mild lameness which gradually worsens over time as the ligament frays. Degenerative versions of CCL disease sometimes rupture acutely during the degenerative process known as ‘acute on chronic’ CCL disease.

Predisposing factors for degenerative CCL disease include

  • Obesity
  • Increasing age
  • Steepness of the angle of the knee joint, known as the tibial plateau angle (TPA).

Possible causes


CCL disease is either traumatic or degenerative.

Traumatic CCL disease involves acute injury such as:

  • Falling from a height
  • Car accident
  • Injury to other structures in the leg such as the collateral ligaments or the menisci (the shock absorbers of the knee joint)

Degenerative CCL disease involves the slow fraying of the fibers of the ligament.

Main symptoms


In long term, chronic cases, the affected limb often develops arthritis.

Testing and diagnosis


Diagnosis involves:

  • Physical examination
  • X-rays
  • MRI
  • CT scans
  • Microscopic examination of joint fluid

Steps to Recovery


There are two treatment options: conservative and surgical.

Conservative management includes:

  • Pain relief
  • Exercise restriction
  • Weight management
  • Physiotherapy

Surgical treatment includes:

  • Stabilization of the knee joint using a synthetic ligament
  • Altering the standing angle of the joint to stabilize the knee without the cranial cruciate ligament

Surgery is the only way to restabilize the knee.

Prognosis varies but most cases have a good outcome where the majority of cats return to the same level of exercise as prior to the disease with treatment.

Outcome depends on the severity of disease, treatment option, and damage to other structures in the affected leg, such as meniscal tears.

Long term stabilization of the knee relies on thickening and strengthening of the joint capsule, a fibrous sheath which surrounds the joint, known as fibrosis.Complete CCL ruptures, and concurrent damage to the knee joint, results in significant instability of the joint which delays fibrosis and leads to prolonged recovery times. Complete ruptures that are treated conservatively take up to 6 months to move without lameness, whereas the same cases treated surgically usually recover within 3 months.

Partial tears are less common in cats and normally result in more subtle lameness. Treatment options are the same but sometimes recover more quickly with both surgical and conservative management.

All cases of CCL disease develop subsequent osteoarthritis; there is some evidence that osteoarthritis develops faster in cats that are treated conservatively.

Prevention


Prevention is challenging in cats as many cases are traumatic and are not preventable. Degenerative forms of CCL disease may be prevented through weight management and not breeding cats with suspected degenerative disease as there may be an inherited component.

Is Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease (CCL or Torn ACL) in Cats common?


CCL disease is uncommon in cats

Typical Treatment


  • Pain relief
  • Exercise restriction
  • Weight management
  • Physiotherapy
  • Surgical treatment

References


Stifle: cranial cruciate ligament disease
Vetstream Ltd; Sorrel Langley-Hobbs BVetMed DSAS(Orth) DipECVS MA FRCVS - Writing for Vetlexicon
Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Cats
Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Ernest Ward, DVM - Writing for VCA Animal Hospitals
CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT DISEASE (FELINE)
No Author - Writing for Manchester Veterinary Specialists
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease
No Author - Writing for American College of Veterinary Surgeons

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