Early kinematic outcome after treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture by tibial plateau levelling osteotomy in the dog

Abstract

To establish the effect of tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) on two selected pelvic limb kinematic variables in dogs treated for clinical cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). Thirteen dogs that had incurred CCLR and were treated by TPLO walked on a treadmill whilst kinematic data on pelvic limb paw motion were acquired using motion capture equipment. Data were subject to secondary processing using matrix analysis software and statistical analysis. Pelvic limb stance duration significantly increased during the 12 week study period, recovering to near-normal values. Range of pelvic limb paw velocity also significantly increased but did not reach normal values by 12 weeks postoperatively. The improvement in stance duration to near normality may aid in explaining the widely-held subjective impression that TPLO frequently provides an excellent outcome in the early stages after repair of the cruciate deficient canine stifle joint. Both stance length and range of paw velocity provide useful objective measures to compare outcome following surgery for CCLR.