Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Healing time after tibial plateau surgery in Boxer and Labrador dogs
By Huerta, Yael et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2025·Department of Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of Osteotomy Healing in Boxer Dogs Undergoing Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy Using Two Radiographic Scoring Systems.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Boxer dogs that underwent surgery to fix their knee (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy or TPLO) were found to have slower healing compared to Labrador Retrievers at about 8 weeks after the procedure. The healing was assessed using two different scoring systems, and it was noted that Boxers had lower scores, indicating they were not healing as well. Additionally, if there was a gap of 1mm or more at the surgery site, the healing scores were even lower for both breeds. This suggests that Boxers may need more time or different care to heal properly after this type of surgery.
People also search for: Boxer dog knee surgery recovery · TPLO healing time for Boxers · why is my dog limping after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this study was to (1) compare 5-point and 10-point bone healing radiographic scoring systems using postoperative tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) radiographs and (2) determine whether Boxer osteotomy healing time differs from age-matched Labrador Retrievers. STUDY DESIGN:  This was a multicentre retrospective study. Fifty-eight client-owned dogs undergoing TPLO (29 Boxers and 29 Labrador Retrievers) were included. Five board-certified surgeons evaluated the radiographs three independent times. Osteotomy healing approximately 8 weeks postoperatively was graded using previously reported 5-point and 10-point scoring systems and immediate postoperative radiographs were assessed for the presence of an osteotomy gap of ≥1 mm. RESULTS:  Both scoring systems had good consistency among observers. Intraobserver consistency was good in three out of five observers using the 5-point system and in four out of five observers using the 10-point system. Boxers had significantly lower radiographic healing scores at 8 weeks postoperatively compared with Labrador Retrievers using both scoring systems ( ≤ 0.001). The presence of an osteotomy gap postoperatively resulted in significantly lower healing scores at 8 weeks using both scoring systems ( < 0.001) in both breeds. CONCLUSION:  No difference was found in inter- and intraobserver variability between scoring systems. Boxer dogs had lower healing scores at 8 weeks after TPLO compared with Labrador Retrievers. An osteotomy gap of ≥1 mm was associated with lower healing scores.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39121864/