Great Dane Gold Coast Queensland

Patella Luxation

 

The Patella ("knee cap") is a bone which is encased in tendon on the front of the stifle. The patella sits in a groove and moves constantly up and down with movement, like the rope in a pulley. However, the patella can “derail” (luxate). Patella luxations are graded according to its behaviour and location. In the early stages, the patella may only very occasionally luxate, but as the condition progresses if left untreated, this can deteriorate into a state where the patella becomes chronically out of place and the joint becomes dysfunctional and starts changing.