The effect of tibial plateau angle on ground reaction forces 4-17 months after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in Labrador Retrievers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between postoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA) and ground reaction forces (GRFs) in Labrador Retrievers at least 4-months after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery.


METHODS
A retrospective longitudinal study.


METHODS
Thirty-two Labrador Retrievers with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament disease that had TPLO and concurrent meniscal surgery.


METHODS
TPA and GRFs were measured pre- and > or = 4 months postoperatively. Preoperative GRFs, preoperative TPA, duration of injury, postoperative TPA and degree of rotation were each compared with postoperative GRFs using correlation analysis. Dogs were also grouped by postoperative TPA and compared using 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Postoperative function was compared with meniscal release/meniscectomy, patient age, sex, body weight and follow-up time using ANOVA.


RESULTS
No significant relationship was found between preoperative GRFs, preoperative TPA, duration of injury, postoperative TPA, degree of rotation, or meniscal release/meniscectomy and postoperative function. Mean preoperative GRFs for all dogs were 28.8 +/- 9.5 for peak vertical force (PVF) and 9.3 +/- 3.1 for peak vertical impulse (VI). Mean postoperative GRFs for all dogs were 40.4 +/- 5.0 for PVF and 14.1 +/- 1.9 for VI.


CONCLUSIONS
No statistically significant relationship was found between postoperative TPA and GRFs after TPLO > or = 4 months after surgery, where the postoperative angle was between 0 and 14 degrees. No significant relationship was found between the preoperative TPA and postoperative function.


CONCLUSIONS
Limb function in Labrador Retrievers was not affected by postoperative TPA and re-operation for cases with a postoperative TPA between 0 and 14 degrees is not recommended.
Robinson
Duane A
DA
Veterinary Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Mason
David R
DR
Evans
Richard
R
Conzemius
Michael G
MG
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001947:Breeding; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies