Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy using a dome-shaped saw blade for canine cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency

Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is commonly used to manage cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease. The use of a spherical osteotomy blade (S-TPLO) enables correction of some tibial deformities with three rotational degrees of freedom.

As a proof of concept, this retrospective study included 45 dogs with CrCL disease that were treated with an S-TPLO. The tibial plateau angle (TPA) was measured preoperatively, immediately after surgery (pTPA₀ ) and on postoperative days 42 (pTPA₄₂ ) and 56 (pTPA₅₆ ). Lameness and osteotomy healing were assessed until 56 days postoperatively.

Thirty-one dogs had complete CrCL ruptures, and 14 dogs had partial ruptures. Thirty-one dogs had medial meniscal damage. The mean TPA, pTPA₀ , pTPA₄₂ and pTPA₅₆ were 26.0°, 7.8°, 8.5° and 8.9°, respectively. The TPA from post-op to follow-up did not vary significantly (p > 1.365). Minor complications occurred in five dogs. The mean lameness score improved significantly from 3.2 preoperatively to 0.9 on day 56 (p < 0.0001). The mean healing score improved significantly from 1.6 on day 42 to 2.2 on day 56 (p < 0.001).

S-TPLO was successful in treating CrCL disease in stifle joints without tibial deformities, with results comparable to previously reported TPLO outcomes.