Major complications associated with fork-based and screw-based tibial tuberosity advancement implants: 438 cases

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Canine Orthopedics

Background:

• Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) is a common surgical procedure for canine cruciate ligament disease.
• Complications can arise, impacting surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence of major complications following TTA in dogs.
• To determine if implant type (fork-based vs. screw-based) or body weight are associated with major complications.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 438 canine stifles undergoing TTA was performed.
• Data on implant type and body weight were collected.
• Complication rates were analyzed in relation to these variables.

Main Results:

• Major complications were reported in 51 out of 438 stifles (11.6%).
• No statistically significant association was found between implant type and major complications.
• No statistically significant association was found between canine body weight and major complications.

Conclusions:

• Major complications following TTA in dogs occur at a notable rate.
• The choice of implant system (fork-based or screw-based) and patient body weight did not appear to influence the risk of major complications in this cohort.