Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term results of knee surgery for ligament tears in dogs
By Shimada, Masakazu et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2020·Department of Veterinary Science, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Long-term outcome and progression of osteoarthritis in uncomplicated cases of cranial cruciate ligament rupture treated by tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with torn knee ligaments (cranial cruciate ligament rupture) underwent a surgery called tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) to help improve their ability to bear weight on their hind legs. After the surgery, the dogs showed significant improvement in their ability to walk and bear weight within six months, and this improvement lasted for up to three years. However, the study found that while their knee arthritis (osteoarthritis) did progress over time, it progressed more slowly in dogs with partial tears compared to those with complete tears. Overall, the surgery helped these dogs maintain better mobility for an extended period.
People also search for: dog knee surgery recovery · TPLO surgery outcome · dog osteoarthritis treatment · cranial cruciate ligament tear symptoms · dog weight-bearing function after surgery
Abstract
The object of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcome of hind limb weight-bearing function and progression of stifle osteoarthritis (OA) after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Groups were classified by the degree of cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) damage and presence or absence of medial meniscus damage as macroscopically evaluated during surgery. Weight-bearing function was assessed via the peak vertical force (PVF), and OA progression was assessed via the radiographic OA score (OAS) preoperatively and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. In all stifles, PVF was significantly higher within 6 months postoperatively than preoperatively, and this high ratio was maintained for 36 months. The OAS was significantly higher 24 months postoperatively than preoperatively in stifles with a partial CrCL tear, and significantly increased at each timepoint after 3 months postoperatively in stifles with complete CrCL rupture. The OAS remained consistently lower in stifles with a partial CrCL tear and no treatment of the medial meniscus than in stifles with complete rupture. Thus, after TPLO, the weight-bearing function improved in the early postoperative period and was maintained for as long as 36 months. Although OA progressed over time after TPLO, the progression was more gradual in stifles with partial tears than in those with complete rupture. Canine patients would benefit from earlier surgical intervention through development of technology that enables early detection of ligament degeneration.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32448811/