Evaluation of a new implant for Tibial Tuberosity Transposition in dogs: An ex vivo study

TL;DR

This study evaluates a new implant for tibial tuberosity transposition in dogs, showing it effectively enables gradual movement without extra devices.

Contribution

A novel implant design for tibial tuberosity transposition in veterinary surgery is introduced and tested.

Findings

The implant's customized plate fit the tibial surface well and enabled gradual transposition.

No tibial crest fractures were observed during or after the procedure in cadaveric samples.

The implant achieved the desired transposition without requiring additional surgical tools.

Abstract

The present study aims to describe and evaluate the effectiveness and potential applicability of a new implant designed to transpose the tibial tuberosity. The implant consists of a customized plate for fixation on the tibia, containing a hole for the insertion of a transposition screw in the tibial tuberosity. Computed tomography was performed on 21 cadaveric canine tibias to plan the surgical technique and calculate the desired transposition. Subsequently, an osteotomy of the tibial tuberosity was performed, extending 60% of the lateral cortex and 80% of the medial cortex to maintain a bone bridge between the tibial shaft and the osteotomized segment. After the osteotomy, the implant was fixed to the tibia, and the tibial tuberosity was transposed slowly and gradually using the transposition screw. The samples underwent radiographic evaluation and manual palpation following the application to detect tibial crest fractures. The plate’s shape adequately fit the medial surface of the tibia, and the implant was effective in promoting a slow and gradual transposition in canine cadavers without the need for an additional surgical device to perform the maneuver. The implant proved to be effective in achieving the desired transposition in a progressive, gradual, and slow manner.

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