Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog walking improves 12 weeks after TPLO surgery for ligament rupture
By de Medeiros, M et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2011·University of Cambridge, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Early kinematic outcome after treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture by tibial plateau levelling osteotomy in the dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 13 dogs with torn knee ligaments (cranial cruciate ligament rupture) underwent a surgical procedure called tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) to help them walk better. Over 12 weeks, the dogs showed significant improvement in how long they could stand on their back legs, getting close to normal levels. Their walking speed also improved, although it didn't fully return to normal by the end of the study. Overall, the surgery seemed to help these dogs recover and move more comfortably after their injury.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: 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). METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: 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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21327288/