Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy using a dome‐shaped saw blade for canine cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency

Abstract

Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is commonly used to manage cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease. The use of a spherical osteotomy blade (S-TPLO) enables correction of some tibial deformities with three rotational degrees of freedom. As a proof of concept, this retrospective study included 45 dogs with CrCL disease that were treated with an S-TPLO. The tibial plateau angle (TPA) was measured preoperatively, immediately after surgery (pTPA0 ) and on postoperative days 42 (pTPA42 ) and 56 (pTPA56 ). Lameness and osteotomy healing were assessed until 56 days postoperatively. Thirty-one dogs had complete CrCL ruptures, and 14 dogs had partial ruptures. Thirty-one dogs had medial meniscal damage. The mean TPA, pTPA0 , pTPA42 and pTPA56 were 26.0°, 7.8°, 8.5° and 8.9°, respectively. The TPA from post-op to follow-up did not vary significantly (p>1.365). Minor complications occurred in five dogs. The mean lameness score improved significantly from 3.2 preoperatively to 0.9 on day 56 (p<0.0001). The mean healing score improved significantly from 1.6 on day 42 to 2.2 on day 56 (p<0.001). S-TPLO was successful in treating CrCL disease in stifle joints without tibial deformities, with results comparable to previously reported TPLO outcomes.