Effect of medial meniscal release on tibial translation after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the biomechanical effects of medial meniscal release (MMR) and medial, caudal pole hemimeniscectomy (MCH) on joint stability in the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)-deficient canine stifle before and after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO).


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Thirty-one dogs.


METHODS
In experiment 1, 16 pairs of normal hindlimbs randomly assigned to an intact or transected CCL group were studied to determine the magnitude of tibial translation after MMR and MCH under 20% body weight load using radiographic imaging of radio-opaque markers. In experiment 2, 15 pairs of CCL-deficient hindlimbs were randomly assigned to a TPLO or sham TPLO group. The remainder of the experiment was performed as described for experiment 1. The effect of CCL transection, MMR, MCH and TPLO were analyzed using 2-way repeated measures ANOVA; P<.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
We found a greater effect of MMR on tibial translation in transected CCL stifles than in intact stifles (P=.0016). We found no further effect of MCH after MMR (P>.05). We found a greater effect of MMR in sham TPLO than TPLO stifles (P=.0013) but no further effect of MCH after MMR (P>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
By resisting tibial translation the medial meniscus might be at greater risk of tearing in CCL-deficient stifles. TPLO may spare the medial meniscus by neutralizing the tibial thrust and eliminating the wedge effect of the medial meniscus.


CONCLUSIONS
MMR may not be indicated in the CCL-deficient stifle stabilized by TPLO.
Pozzi
Antonio
A
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA. pozzi.5@osu.edu
Kowaleski
Michael P
MP
Apelt
Detlef
D
Meadows
Cheyney
C
Andrews
Chad M
CM
Johnson
Kenneth A
KA
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*