Reggie Hargreaves

Cruciate ligament insufficiency

Reggie is a 1 year 9 month old French Bulldog. The Owners reported several months of mild lameness leading up to Reggie’s diagnosis and surgery, but no other significant medical history. After veterinary investigations Reggie was diagnosed with cruciate ligament insufficiency and  Patella luxation . Reggie had surgery to stabilise his stifle. The procedures left Reggie with a 12 cm wound down the front of the stifle. 
On day one the wound measured approx. 12cm and had a distinctive incision line down the centre of the staples. There was a significant amount of swelling and redness in the surrounding soft tissue. Reggie was showing discomfort when moving his leg and was non weight baring.
On day three the redness and swelling surrounding the wound had mostly subsided, just leaving swelling directly surrounding the incision and staples. Reggie appeared more comfortable with the leg but was still not using it when walking. In the centre of the wound there was a 3-4cm section where the incision line appears to have healed over, just leaving open sections and both ends on the incision .
By day seven the incision line had healed for the majority of the length of the wound, with just a small unhealed section at either end of the wound. The incision line was still immediately surrounded by an area of swelling but Reggie was far more comfortable with the leg and had begun to weight bare and tentatively use the leg when walking.
On day ten the full length of the incision had healed but the swelling along the incision line still remained. An area of redness had appeared at the top of the wound but this was most likely due to self-inflicted irritation as Reggie was no longer wearing a buster collar .
On day fourteen the staples had been removed from the wound. The full length of the wound had healed at this stage and the majority of the inflammation surrounding the incision had also resolved. Reggie was walking significantly better on the leg .