What causes a patellar luxation?
The large muscles of the thigh (quadriceps) attach to the top of the kneecap. A ligament, known as the patellar ligament, attaches the quadriceps muscle to a point on the center front of tibia (the bone in the lower leg) just below the knee joint. The kneecap sits on the undersurface of this ligament. When the thigh muscles contract, the force is transmitted through the patellar ligament, pulling on the tibia,. This results in extension or straightening of the knee. The patella slides up and down in its groove (the trochlear groove) and helps keep the patellar ligament in place during this movement. “Many toy or small breed dogs…have a genetic predisposition…” Many toy or small breed dogs, including Maltese, French poodles, and Bichon frise dogs, have a genetic predisposition for a luxating patella due to a congenitally shallow trochlear groove. In some dogs, (especially ones that are bowlegged) the patella may luxate because the point of attachment of the patellar ligament is not
