An evaluation of osteoarthrosis in specific anatomic locations of the canine stifle joint treated with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and tibial tuberosity advancement

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in osteoarthrosis (OA) in specific anatomic locations of the stifle joints of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture, and to observe differences at these locations after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) procedures. The radiographic OA scoring system used in this study involved 14 anatomic locations each of which was evaluated and analyzed individually. The radiographs of 55 dogs treated with TPLO or TTA were evaluated. Each anatomic location was scored from 0 to 3 for OA; the OA score of each location was recorded at the beginning of the study (T0) and 6 months postoperatively (T6) as was the frequency and percentage of those joints in which the OA had increased by at least 1 score between T0 and T6. The OA found preoperatively was consistent with the instability of a stifle joint having CrCL rupture. Both techniques showed greater changes at T6 in the caudal aspects of the tibial plateau, and in the lateral tibial and femoral condyles. The low percentage of changes in the other locations suggested an effective redistribution of joint stress in both procedures. No substantial differences were detected between the techniques which would support the distinct geometric modifications, except for signs of OA indicative of the incomplete restoration of the tibial internal rotation after TPLO and the persistent moderate tibial cranial subluxation observed after TTA. Overall, all the results were consistent with the previous biomechanical studies found in the literature.