title: Complications associated with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy: a retrospective of 1519 procedures.
abstract: This retrospective study identified complications associated with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and predisposing factors for these complications in a large population of dogs from a metropolitan area with cruciate ligament deficiency. There were 943 dogs that underwent unilateral TPLO and 288 with staged bilateral TPLO for a total of 1519 procedures. There were 47 cases with at least 1 major complication and 126 cases with at least 1 minor complication but no major complications. The total complication rate (major or minor) was 11.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) estimate: 9.8%, 13.2%]; the major complication rate was 3.1% (95% CI: 2.3%, 4.1%); and the minor complication rate was 8.3% (95% CI: 7.0%, 9.8%). Factors associated with development of complications included being a German shepherd dog [odds ratio (OR): 3.2], tibial plateau angle > 30° (OR: 1.6), and heavier weights (for every 4.5 kg increase in body weight the OR increased by 1.10). Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy is a common treatment for dogs with cruciate ligament deficiency and has a low complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Services, 1021 Howard George Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63021, USA (Coletti, Anderson, Gorse); Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA (Madsen).
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Coletti
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Services, 1021 Howard George Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63021, USA (Coletti, Anderson, Gorse); Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA (Madsen).
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Services, 1021 Howard George Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63021, USA (Coletti, Anderson, Gorse); Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA (Madsen).
authors.forename: Mary Jean
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gorse
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Specialty Services, 1021 Howard George Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63021, USA (Coletti, Anderson, Gorse); Department of Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA (Madsen).
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies