Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complications after tibial tuberosity surgery for dog kneecap
By Stanke, Natasha J et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2014·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Stephenson) and Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences (Hayashi), United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective risk factor assessment for complication following tibial tuberosity transposition in 137 canine stifles with medial patellar luxation.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 113 dogs with knee problems due to medial patellar luxation (a condition where the kneecap slips out of place) underwent surgery called tibial tuberosity transposition to fix the issue. Unfortunately, 43% of these surgeries led to complications, with some being quite serious. Larger dogs and those that were heavier were more likely to face complications, especially if a screw was used to secure the bone during surgery. On the positive side, older dogs and those with a torn cruciate ligament had a lower risk of complications. This information can help vets make better decisions about surgery for dogs with this condition.
People also search for: dog knee surgery complications · medial patellar luxation treatment · large breed dog surgery risks
Abstract
This study identified risk factors for complication following tibial tuberosity transposition by retrospective examination of cases that used various surgical techniques. Records and radiographs of 113 dogs with 137 stifles undergoing tibial tuberosity transposition for medial patellar luxation were reviewed. Patient-specific factors, surgical factors, and complication information were recorded. Owners were contacted as necessary to attain a minimum of 30 days follow-up. Of 137 stifles, 59 (43%) had complications, with 24 (18%) identified as major complications. Factors significantly associated with reduced risk of complication included increased age [odds ratio (OR) 0.8] and concurrent cranial cruciate ligament rupture (OR 0.3). Factors significantly associated with increased risk of complication included large breed compared to toy breed (OR 5.5), increased weight (OR 1.3), and use of a screw for tibial tuberosity fixation (OR infinity). While significant, these associations do not imply causality and prospective study is necessary to determine the ideal fixation method for individual patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24688134/