Modified cranial closing wedge ostectomy in 25 dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Orthopedics
• Surgical Techniques
• Canine Knee Surgery

Background:

• Cranial cruciate ligament disease is a common orthopedic condition in dogs.
• Traditional surgical techniques for tibial plateau leveling may have limitations.
• The modified cranial closing wedge ostectomy (mCCWO) offers a potential alternative approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the planning process for the modified cranial closing wedge ostectomy (mCCWO).
• To evaluate the accuracy of executing the mCCWO without intraoperative jigs or alignment guides.
• To assess the impact of mCCWO on tibial plateau angle (TPA) and tibial length.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study reviewed medical records of 25 dogs (32 stifles) with cranial cruciate ligament disease treated with mCCWO.
• Preoperative, postoperative, and 8-week recheck radiographs were analyzed.
• Accuracy was determined by comparing planned and actual postoperative TPA and osteotomy lengths.

Main Results:

• mCCWO planning reduced cranial wedge length by 23% compared to traditional methods.
• Postoperative TPA significantly decreased from a mean of 40.69° to 6.94°.
• Planned and actual postoperative TPA showed a small mean difference of -0.66°, with no clinically significant tibial shortening or TLA shift.

Conclusions:

• The mCCWO technique can be accurately planned and executed without intraoperative aids.
• The observed differences in TPA, osteotomy lengths, and tibial length were not clinically significant.
• mCCWO is a viable surgical option for managing cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs.