Kinesiology taping reduces dog knee swelling 24 hours after TPLO

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of kinesiology taping on stifle joint soft tissue swelling in canines 24 hours after tibial plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO). The hypothesis was that dogs with kinesiology tape applied postoperatively would have significantly less swelling within 24 hours of surgery compared to those with no kinesiology tape applied. METHODS: Canine stifles undergoing TPLO from October 2023 through June 2025 were randomized into 2 groups: a treatment group with kinesiology tape applied in a double-lymphatic pattern to the surgical stifle postoperatively and a control group with no tape applied. Girth measurements were obtained with pressure-sensitive measuring tape at 3 locations (lateral fabella of the femur, joint line, and tibial tuberosity) at 5 time points (immediately before surgical preparation, immediately postoperatively, 3 hours postoperatively, 18 hours postoperatively [18H], and 24 hours postoperatively [24H]). RESULTS: 31 canine stifles were split between the treatment (n = 16) and nontreatment (15) groups. The treatment group had significantly less swelling than the control group at the lateral fabella of the femur location at 18H and 24H and at the tibial tuberosity location at 3 hours postoperatively, 18H, and 24H. The kinesiology tape application was well tolerated with no adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Kinesiology tape applied in a double-lymphatic pattern at the surgical stifle immediately after TPLO reduces soft tissue swelling during the early inflammatory period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Kinesiology taping provides a simple, low-cost, noninvasive method to reduce stifle joint soft tissue swelling in the immediate TPLO postoperative period.