Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tibial plateau angle linked to meniscal tears in dogs with torn
By Bertorelli, Jaclyn et al.·Published in BMC veterinary research·2025·Carolina Veterinary Specialists, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Correlation between the tibial plateau angle and occurrence of medial meniscal tears in dogs with complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 144 dogs with complete cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears were examined for knee injuries, specifically medial meniscal tears (MMT). It was found that dogs with a tibial plateau angle (TPA) of 35 to 37 degrees had fewer MMT, while those with a TPA greater than 38 degrees had an even lower chance of these injuries. Additionally, dogs with acute lameness were six times more likely to have MMT compared to those with chronic lameness. Understanding these factors can help veterinarians assess the risk of meniscal tears in dogs with CCL injuries.
People also search for: dog knee injury treatment · CCL tear in dogs · medial meniscal tear symptoms in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is a correlation between the degree of the tibial plateau angle (TPA) and the incidence of medial meniscal tear (MMT) in dogs with complete cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture observed at the time of arthrotomy. METHODS: 144 dogs met the inclusion criteria for this study with 88 (61.11%) found to have a MMT. Breed, age, sex, weight, affected limb, duration of lameness, and the integrity of contralateral stifle were recorded. Six groups were established based on TPA ranges measured in degrees. RESULTS: There was a one-fourth reduction in the number of MMT observed in dogs with a TPA between 35 to 37 degrees and an almost two-fold reduction in the number of MMT in dogs with a TPA greater than 38 degrees. There was a 6 times greater risk of MMT in those with acute lameness in comparison to those with a chronic lameness. CONCLUSION: A relationship was found to exist between MMT and TPA with a lower prevalence of MMT in dogs with an excessive TPA. Chronic lameness was also associated with a lower prevalence of MMT regardless of TPA degree. In dogs with complete CCL tears, excessive TPA and chronic lameness were found to be statistically significant in relation to fewer MMT.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40141000/