Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complications and outcomes of TPLO surgery in small and large dogs
By Schuenemann, Riccarda & Kaczmarek, Jakub·Published in Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere·2023·Kleintierspezialisten Augsburg·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy in small and large breed dogs: a comparative retrospective study of complications and outcomes.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs that had surgery to fix a torn knee ligament (cranial cruciate ligament) using a special plate called Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) was studied to see how well they recovered. The results showed that small dogs had fewer complications and were less lame after surgery compared to large dogs. In fact, none of the small dogs had major issues, while 22% of large dogs did. The study suggests that TPLO is a good option for dogs of all sizes, but placing the plate closer to the joint can help reduce the risk of problems after surgery.
People also search for: dog knee surgery recovery · TPLO complications in large dogs · small dog knee surgery success rate
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare complication rates and outcomes of small and large breed dogs that had locking plate Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) performed due to cranial cruciate ligament disease during the same time period at a single institution and identify potential influencing factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 136 cases with TPLO performed at a single institution between January 2013 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were grouped by plate sizes (2.0, 2.4, 2.7, 3.5 and 3.5 broad) and by small breeds (2.0-2.7 plate sizes) and large breeds (3.5 plates). Potential influencing factors on lameness and complications were recorded from the database and measured on radiographs and statistically compared. RESULTS: Small dogs experienced fewer complications than large dogs (10% vs. 22%) and not a single major complication. Small dogs were significantly less lame at recheck and at long-term follow-up. Progression of bone healing had an influence on the lameness grade of dogs at recheck after TPLO. Distance of the most proximal screw from the joint was identified as a risk factor for implant failure. The width of the patella ligament correlated with body weight and uniformly increased 2.4 times after TPLO. CONCLUSIONS: TPLO in small breed dogs has a lower overall complication rate than in large breed dogs. The TPLO plate should always be placed as close to the joint as possible to reduce the risk of implant failure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TPLO can be recommended as treatment for cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) in dogs of all sizes.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36917988/