# Outcome in 12 Dogs with Chronic Radiographic Cranial Tibial Subluxation after Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (2019-2021)

## TL;DR

This study found that TPLO surgery can improve chronic cranial tibial subluxation in dogs, though outcomes vary and some cases may not respond well.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the long-term outcomes of TPLO in dogs with chronic cranial tibial subluxation.

## Key findings

- Three of four prospectively studied dogs showed radiographic improvement in cranial tibial subluxation.
- One dog with persistent subluxation had severe lameness and a higher tibial plateau angle over time.
- Dogs with improved subluxation showed near-symmetrical weight-bearing and no clinical lameness.

## Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine outcomes in dogs with cruciate ligament rupture (CR) that had chronic radiographic cranial tibial subluxation at the time of osteotomy healing after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Study Design. Retrospective case analysis of 12 dogs with prospective follow-up. Four of the 12 dogs were prospectively studied 12-24 months after surgery to assess long-term radiographic and clinical outcomes.

Three of the 4 dogs showed improvement in radiographic cranial tibial subluxation at long-term follow-up. In the other dog, minimally improved cranial tibial subluxation was associated with severe lameness. At long-term follow-up, gait analysis in 3 dogs with improved subluxation showed the symmetry of weight-bearing within 10% for peak vertical force, and no clinically lameness. Preoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA) and radiographic osteoarthritis in dogs with prospective follow-up and all dogs treated with TPLO surgery in the study period were not significantly different.

Dogs with chronic radiographic cranial tibial subluxation are acceptable candidates for TPLO. Radiographic improvement in stifle reduction may take more than 10 weeks. The dog with long-term persistent subluxation also had a higher TPA over time, suggestive of ineffective surgical correction with TPLO and treatment failure.