Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
TPLO surgery helps small dogs with steep knee angles and ligament
By Witte, Philip G & Scott, Harry W·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2014·Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in small breed dogs with high tibial plateau angles using a 4-hole 1.9/2.5 mm locking T-plate.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small breed dogs with knee problems due to cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease underwent a surgery called tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) using a special locking plate. Before the surgery, the dogs showed significant lameness, scoring an average of 3.4 out of 5, but just 6-8 weeks after the procedure, their scores improved dramatically to 0.4, indicating they were moving much better. While there were some complications in a few dogs, including a screw failure and an infection, most dogs had a successful recovery with no lameness reported during follow-up. This surgery appears to be an effective option for small dogs with high tibial plateau angles.
People also search for: dog knee surgery recovery · TPLO for small breed dogs · CCL disease treatment in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To report clinical experiences with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) to address cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease in small breed dogs with high tibial plateau angles (TPA) using a specific 4-hole locking T-plate. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Small breed dogs (<15 kg) with high TPA (>30°): n = 19 (29 CCL ruptures). METHODS: TPLO was performed by standard technique using a 1.9/2.5 mm 4-hole locking T-plate. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and 6-8 weeks postoperative TPA were measured from radiographs. Lameness was scored subjectively preoperatively and 6-8 weeks postoperatively. Mid to long term follow-up was by client telephone questionnaire (mean, 12.1 months after surgery). RESULTS: Mean ± SD preoperative TPA was 37.0 ± 4.9°, immediate postoperative TPA, 6.4 ± 2.8° and 6-8 weeks postoperative TPA, 8.0 ± 4.9°. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 dogs (13.8%) all of which had been operated as single-session bilateral procedures. Three stifles had failure of a single screw and postoperative increase in TPA. Periprosthetic infection necessitated plate removal in 1 dog. Lameness scores by veterinary assessment reduced from mean 3.4/5 preoperatively to 0.4/5 at 6-8 weeks postoperatively. Mid to long-term follow-up revealed no lameness by owner assessment. CONCLUSION: A 4-hole 1.9/2.5 mm locking T-plate may be used in the stabilization of unilateral TPLO in small breed dogs with high TPA.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24819372/