title: Relationship of tibial plateau slope to limb function in dogs treated with a lateral suture technique for stabilization of cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a lateral suture technique (LST) on tibial plateau angle (TPA) measurement and to compare TPA with functional outcome in dogs treated for cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture with LST.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs (n=34) with unilateral CrCL instability.
  
  
  METHODS
  All dogs had lameness examination, survey stifle radiographs, and force plate analysis before and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after surgery. Radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) scores and lameness scores were assigned using previously reported methods. Preoperative radiographs were performed in all dogs, and postoperative serial radiographs were performed in 6 dogs for measurement of TPA. Differences in TPA measurements were evaluated with a random effects repeated measures model. The significance of LST on TPA measurement was established in 6 dogs and the effect of TPA on vertical impulse, peak vertical force, progression of radiographic scores, and lameness score were analyzed by general linear models in all dogs. Differences were considered significant if P<.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were not noted between pre- and serial postoperative measurements of TPA. A significant correlation was not established between TPA and postoperative vertical impulse, peak vertical force, lameness score, or radiographic OA scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPA values were unchanged after LST and TPA does not affect outcome measures in dogs treated with LST.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPA has no predictive value on clinical outcome in dogs treated with LST for stabilization of CrCL deficient stifles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Marc E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Havig
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyce
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kowaleski
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Budsberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery; D013264:Stifle / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome