Effect of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy on femorotibial contact mechanics and stifle kinematics.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on femorotibial contact mechanics and 3-dimensional (3D) kinematics in cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)-deficient stifles of dogs.


METHODS
In vitro biomechanical study.


METHODS
Unpaired pelvic limbs from 8 dogs, weighing 28-35 kg.


METHODS
Digital pressure sensors placed subjacent to the menisci were used to measure femorotibial contact force, contact area, peak and mean contact pressure, and peak pressure location with the limb under an axial load of 30% body weight and a stifle angle of 135 degrees. Three-dimensional static poses of the stifle were obtained using a Microscribe digitizing arm. Each specimen was tested under normal, CrCL-deficient, and TPLO-treated conditions. Repeated measures analysis of variance with a Tukey post hoc test (P<.05) was used for statistical comparison.


RESULTS
Significant disturbances to all measured contact mechanical variables were evident after CrCL transection, which corresponded to marked cranial tibial subluxation and increased internal tibial rotation in the CrCL-deficient stifle. No significant differences in 3D femorotibial alignment were observed between normal and TPLO-treated stifles; however, femorotibial contact area remained significantly smaller and peak contact pressures in both medial and lateral stifle compartments were positioned more caudally on the tibial plateau, when compared with normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas TPLO eliminates craniocaudal stifle instability during simulated weight bearing, the procedure fails to concurrently restore femorotibial contact mechanics to normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Progression of stifle osteoarthritis in dogs treated with TPLO may be partly the result of abnormal stifle contact mechanics induced by altering the orientation of the proximal tibial articulating surface.
Kim
Stanley E
SE
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Pozzi
Antonio
A
Banks
Scott A
SA
Conrad
Bryan P
BP
Lewis
Daniel D
DD
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002102:Cadaver; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013264:Stifle / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*