An apparatus and method for stabilization of a cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifle in canines using a suture-button construct. The method includes the steps of drilling a femoral hole across a distal femur, passing a needle with a pull-through suture strand of a suture-button construct through the femoral hole, and applying a tensile force to the pull-through suture strand and a suture tape or strand of the construct such that a first button of the suture-button construct lies sideways for passage through the femoral hole, advancing the first button through the femoral hole by pulling the pull-through suture strand until the first button exits the femoral hole, drilling a tibial hole and passing the needle with the pull-through suture strand through the tibial hole, applying a tensile force to the pull-through suture strand and the suture tape or strand of the construct such that the first button lies sideways for passage through the tibial hole, flipping the first button to engage the first button against the medial tibial cortex and subsequently cutting and removing the pull-through suture strand, pulling free ends of the suture tape or strand to advance a second button of the suture-button construct and to seat the second button against the femur, and securing the second button against the femur.
