Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Small breed dogs walking better after knee surgery for ligament tear
By Amimoto, Hirokazu et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2020·Fujiidera Animal Hospital Animal Joint Reconstruction Center, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Force Plate Gait Analysis and Clinical Results after Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Small Breed Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small breed dogs weighing 15 kg or less with a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) underwent a surgery called tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) to help restore their leg function. After the surgery, the dogs showed significant improvement in their hindlimb movement, with their ability to bear weight nearly returning to normal within two months. Although two dogs experienced minor complications, they did not need further surgery and were able to recover well. Overall, TPLO surgery proved to be effective for these dogs in improving their mobility.
People also search for: small dog knee surgery recovery · TPLO surgery for dogs · torn CCL treatment in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this study was to evaluate objective limb function using force plate gait analysis after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) in small breed dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Small breed dogs (15 kg or less) with unilateral CCLR treated with TPLO were evaluated using symmetry index (SI) of peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse and vector magnitude at PVF performed preoperatively and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively after routine TPLO surgery. RESULTS:  Twelve dogs met the inclusion criteria. Hindlimb function was markedly improved after TPLO, with all three postoperative SI significantly higher after a month than preoperative values ( < 0.01). At 2 months after surgery, the SI was nearly normalized to 1.0 (preoperative SI: 0.50 ± 0.20, 0.44 ± 0.19 and 0.51 ± 0.19, and 2 months postoperative SI: 0.92 ± 0.16, 0.90 ± 0.18 and 0.92 ± 0.16 respectively). Complications were noted in two dogs (fibular fracture and a partial implant failure), neither of which required a revision surgery for acceptable functional recovery. CONCLUSION:  The objective limb function of the affected hindlimb improved continuously after surgery and reached a near normal value at 6 months after surgery. It was suggested that TPLO for small breed dogs had good outcomes based on force plate gait analysis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32088924/