Heat generation by two different saw blades used for tibial plateau leveling osteotomies

During tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) the saw blade produces frictional heat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare heat generated by two TPLO blade designs (Slocum Enterprises [SE] and New Generation Devices [NDG]), with or without irrigation, on cadaveric canine tibias. Thirty-six paired tibias were used to continuously measure bone temperatures during osteotomy through both cortices (i.e., the cis and trans cortices). Each pair was assigned to either an irrigation or nonirrigation group during osteotomy, and each tibia within a pair was osteotomized using a different saw blade design. Saw blade temperatures were recorded and temperatures were compared for all combinations of blade type, cortex, and irrigation. In the cis cortex group, the SE blade generated more bone heat than the NGD blade (P=0.0258). Significant differences in temperature generation between saw blade types were seen only when the osteotomy site was not irrigated (P=0.0156). For all variables measured, bone and saw blade temperature generation was lower with irrigation (P<0.05). None of the osteotomies performed with either saw blade produced a critical duration of damaging temperature ranges in this study. Although saw blade design and irrigation influence heat generation during the TPLO, the potential for bone thermal damage during TPLO is low. The use of the NGD blade with irrigation is recommended.