Lateral Fabellae Loop Surgery for Cranial Cruciate Disease
The lateral fabellae loop aims to replicate the stabilising effect of the intact cruciate ligament thus stabilising the cruciate deficient stifle.
A large gauge nylon ligament is passed around the fabellae on the femur and then through the cranial tibia and stops the tibia sliding forwards on weight bearing. Over time the join capsule thickens and supports the stifle also.
This procedure has commonly been recommended for smaller dogs and the outcomes are generally thought to be superior to no surgery in an unstable stifle. The prosthetic ligament can break or become loose, especially in larger dogs and this is why the osteotomy techniques have superseded this technique in larger breeds. The post operative discomfort ( morbidity) is thought to be worse relative to the osteotomy techniques.
The diagram below shows the placement of the prosthetic ligament to support the stifle.
We still commonly perform this procedure in small patients (under 10 kgs) and are happy with the results. TPLO is a better option in most dogs but if cost is prohibitive this technique will usually yield good outcomes.