Radiographic changes of the patellar ligament in dogs after tibial tuberosity advancement

Ladislav Stehlík,Pavel Proks,Petra Fedorová,Alois Nečas

doi:10.2754/avb201382020215

Ladislav Stehlík, Pavel Proks + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb201382020215

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Abstract

Patellar desmopathy in dogs after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy has been described in many studies. Tibial tuberosity advancement is a biomechanically different technique. It is assumed that the patellar ligament is loaded with little force similarly as after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy. Various aspects related to secondary patellar desmopathy are not completely understood. This study deals with computed radiography measurement of patellar ligament thickness after tibial tuberosity advancement in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. The thickness of the patellar ligament in exactly predetermined locations was measured from mediolateral radiographs of stifle joints. A total of 18 dogs (20 knee joints) with cranial cruciate ligament (ligamentum cruciatum craniale) rupture underwent three radiographic examinations of the knee (preoperative examination and control examination 7 and 15 weeks after the surgery). Significant difference was found between the thickness of the patellar ligament in the first and second examinations. Some of the demographic factors possibly related to patellar ligament thickness (age, sex, body weight, type of cranial cruciate ligament rupture, arthrotomy, cage size, meniscal injury, time between surgery and radiographic examination) were analyzed. However, statistical analyses did not show any effect of these factors on the thickness of the patellar ligament, except for the time between surgery and radiographic examination. These findings can extend the surgeons’ knowledge of biomechanical aspects of tibial tuberosity advancement.

Highlights

Cranial cruciate ligament disease is one of the most common disorders of the knee joint in the dog (Pacchiana et al 2003)
Good visualization of the patellar ligament is supported by its superficial position and the surrounding fat tissue. These features give perfect possibility to evaluate the patellar ligament in the dog using computed radiography examination
Boudrieau (2009) explains the thickening of the patellar tendon as a result of shortening the distance between the patellar tendon attachment and the eminentia intercondylaris. This shortening is due to tibial osteotomy during the Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery and results in short lever arm during movements within the knee joint

Summary

Introduction

Cranial cruciate ligament (ligamentum cruciatum craniale, LCCr) disease is one of the most common disorders of the knee joint in the dog (Pacchiana et al 2003). There are many surgical procedures to secure the stability of the knee joint with disrupted cranial cruciate ligament. All these methods can be divided into static or dynamic in accordance to the technique used (Boudrieau 2009; Kühn et al 2011). Some studies were published about the patellar desmopathy after the TPLO procedure (Pacchiana et al 2003; Carey et al 2005; Boudrieau 2009). The aim of this study was to determine the thickness of the patellar ligament in dogs after the TTA using computed radiography

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