Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term results of knee surgery in dogs without meniscus check
By Bureau, S·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2017·Clinique Veterinaire Alliance, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Owner assessment of the outcome of tibial plateau levelling osteotomy without meniscal evaluation for treatment of naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament rupture: 130 cases (2009 to 2013).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 107 dogs with torn knee ligaments (cranial cruciate ligament rupture) underwent a surgery called tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, which helps stabilize the knee. Owners reported that most dogs returned to normal behavior and activity levels after surgery, with only 6% experiencing ongoing lameness, possibly due to undetected meniscal injuries. Some dogs showed signs of lameness 4 to 21 months post-surgery, but overall, the long-term outcomes were positive. This suggests that while routine checks for meniscal damage during surgery may not be necessary, some dogs may still need further evaluation if they don't fully recover.
People also search for: dog knee surgery recovery · cranial cruciate ligament tear treatment · dog lameness after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term surgical outcome and chronic pain in dogs suffering from naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament rupture treated by tibial plateau levelling osteotomy without meniscal evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective clinical study, data from surgical records of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture that underwent tibial plateau levelling osteotomy without meniscal evaluation between August 2009 and November 2013 were reviewed. An owner questionnaire was used to evaluate the long-term outcome and the prevalence of chronic pain. RESULTS: 107 dogs were included in this study. The long-term follow-up ranged from 1 to 4·5 years (mean 2·5 years). Four dogs developed acute lameness 4 to 21 months after surgery after having shown improvement. Dog behavior was assessed to be normal in 93% of cases and the level of activity was estimated to be normal for 88% of cases. Persistent lameness was reported after surgery in 6% of dogs and might have resulted from undiagnosed meniscal lesions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Considering the low incidence of persistent lameness after surgery and the limits of diagnosis and treatment, the need for routine meniscal examination during tibial plateau levelling osteotomy is questionable.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28543035/