Patellar luxation in 70 large breed dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Canine Orthopedics

Background:

• Patellar luxation is a common orthopedic condition in dogs.
• Large breed dogs may have different risk factors and outcomes compared to smaller breeds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate signalment, clinical features, and outcomes of patellar luxation in dogs weighing over 15 kg.
• To identify risk factors for patellar luxation and postoperative complications.
• To compare surgical and non-surgical treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of 70 large breed dogs with patellar luxation.
• Data collected included signalment, luxation grade, lameness grade, treatment method, and complications.
• Outcomes were graded as excellent, good, fair, or poor.

Main Results:

• Medial patellar luxation was most common (102/105 stifles).
• Higher luxation and lameness grades were significantly correlated (P<0.001).
• Surgical treatment resulted in excellent/good outcomes in 94% of stifles, while non-surgical treatment had 86% excellent/good outcomes.
• Complications occurred in 29% of surgical cases, with increased body weight identified as a risk factor (P=0.03).

Conclusions:

• Surgical intervention for patellar luxation in large dogs offers high success rates.
• Femoral trochleoplasty, tibial tuberosity transposition, and soft tissue stabilization are recommended for surgical cases.
• Managing increased body weight may help reduce postoperative complications in large breed dogs.