Complications and outcomes following surgical management of common calcaneal tendon pathology in 80 dogs

TL;DR

This study examines surgical outcomes and complications in 80 dogs treated for calcaneal tendon issues, comparing different procedures.

Contribution

The study provides a comparative analysis of complication rates and outcomes for different surgical approaches to calcaneal tendon pathology in dogs.

Findings

Tendon repair with tarsocrural immobilization had a significantly higher catastrophic complication rate compared to pantarsal arthrodesis.

Short-term outcomes were comparable between pantarsal arthrodesis and calcaneal tendon repair surgeries.

Temporary tarsocrural immobilization, with or without tendon repair, carried a higher risk of complications requiring revision surgery.

Abstract

To report the complications and outcomes following surgical management of common calcaneal tendon (CCT) pathology in dogs.

Retrospective cohort study.

A total of 80 dogs with CCT pathology underwent 89 surgeries.

Retrospective data were reviewed from five veterinary referral centers for dogs with CCT pathology that underwent surgical treatment (January 2011 to December 2021). Clients completed a Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire to assess long‐term outcomes.

Tendon repair with tarsocrural immobilization was performed in 46/89 limbs (51.7%), with three‐loop pulley the most common suture pattern, used in 19/46 tendon repairs (41.3%). Pantarsal arthrodesis was performed in 32/89 limbs (36%) and temporary tarsocrural immobilization without tendon repair in 11/89 limbs (12.3%). Median time from surgery to final follow‐up at the referral center was 10 weeks (range: 6–256 weeks). There was no difference in complication rate between tendon repair (56.5%) and pantarsal arthrodesis (42.8%) (p = .543). Tendon repair with tarsocrural immobilization had a significantly higher catastrophic complication rate (26.1%) than pantarsal arthrodesis (0%) (p = .005). A total of 23 LOAD questionnaires were returned. There was no difference in mildly affected dogs between the three surgical groups (p = .493).

Pantarsal arthrodesis and CCT repair surgeries had comparable short‐term outcomes and complication rates. However, there is a greater risk of complications requiring revision surgery following temporary tarsocrural immobilization, with or without tendon repair, compared to pantarsal arthrodesis.

The increased risk of revision surgery should be discussed with owners, considering the potential financial and treatment implications for their dogs.