Triple tibial osteotomy for treatment of the canine cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifle joint. Surgical findings and postoperative complications in 97 stifles.
OBJECTIVE
To report the surgical findings and early post-operative complications of triple tibial osteotomy (TTO) for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disruption in dogs.


METHODS
Clinical records of 84 dogs (97 stifles) that had TTO procedures were reviewed. Surgical findings and postoperative complications were assessed. A complication was defined as any undesirable outcome resulting from TTO that required further diagnostic investigation or surgical treatment.


RESULTS
Mean tibial wedge angle was 13.6 degrees (range 10-20). Incomplete tibial crest osteotomy was achieved in 79% of TTO procedures. Implants were placed in the tibial crest in 67% of stifles. Early postoperative complications occurred in 23% of joints, and included avulsion of the tibial crest (9.1%), fracture at the distal cortical attachment of the tibial crest (6.2%), fibula fracture (4.1%), patellar tendonitis (3.1%), late meniscal injury (3.1%), implant complications (3.1%) and patellar fracture (2.1%). Increased patient age (p = 0.023), increased wedge angle (p = 0.009) and intra-operative fracturing of the cranial tibial cortex (p = 0.017) were significantly associated with postoperative tibial crest avulsion. Implants did not prevent tibial crest avulsion. Increased patient age (p = 0.012) was significantly associated with tibial crest fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
Tibial crest avulsion and fracture are the most common postoperative complications for TTO. Late meniscal injury is uncommon after TTO.
Moles
A D
AD
Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, Small Animal Surgery, South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. a.moles@murdoch.edu.au
Hill
T P
TP
Glyde
M
M
D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013264:Stifle / Q000601:surgery; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery