Short-term outcomes of 43 dogs treated with arthroscopic suturing for meniscal tears associated with cranial cruciate ligament disease

Patrick J Rocheleau ^1,2, Alexandria Robson ¹, Sarah D Bird ¹

⁰Espanola Animal Hospital, Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Veterinary Surgery : Vs +

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April 9, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Meniscal suturing combined with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) shows promising outcomes in dogs. Augmenting TPLO with an internal brace (IB) improved success rates for canine stifle stabilization.

Area Of Science

Veterinary Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Canine Knee Surgery

Background

Meniscal pathology is a common complication following cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs.
Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) is a standard surgical procedure for canine stifle instability.
Meniscal suturing aims to preserve meniscal function and reduce osteoarthritis progression.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate short-term outcomes and complications of meniscal suturing concurrent with TPLO in dogs.
To compare outcomes between standard TPLO and augmented TPLO (TPLO + internal brace [IB]).

Main Methods

Retrospective case series of 43 dogs undergoing meniscal suturing and TPLO.
Inclusion criteria involved specific types of meniscal instability or tears.
Stifle stabilization included standard TPLO or TPLO + IB.
Outcome assessment involved physical exams, radiography, gait analysis, LOAD scores, and second-look arthroscopy.

Main Results

Forty-four meniscal repairs were performed in 43 dogs, treating five types of meniscal pathology.
Overall complication rate was 34%, with most not related to meniscal suturing.
TPLO + IB demonstrated a higher success rate (93.3%) compared to TPLO alone (71.4%) (p=0.049).

Conclusions

Meniscal suturing is practical and successful for various meniscal pathologies in dogs.
Postoperative stifle stability, particularly with augmented TPLO, significantly impacts successful treatment outcomes.
Current criteria for meniscal suturing may be too restrictive.