Single-stage bilateral tibial tuberosity advancement for treatment of bilateral canine cranial cruciate ligament deficiency

Abstract

Objective: To report complications in dogs with naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament rupture following single-stage bilateral tibial tuberosity advancement (SS-BTTA) procedures, and to compare these complications to a population of dogs undergoing unilateral tibial tuberosity advancement (UTTA).

Methods: Medical records and radiographs of client-owned dogs treated with tibial tuberosity advancement between August 2008 and December 2011 were reviewed. Forty-four client-owned dogs with bilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture that underwent SS-BTTA procedures and 82 client-owned dogs that underwent UTTA procedures were randomly selected from our hospital population. Complications were recorded and analysed. Major complications were defined as fractures or any complication requiring a second surgery. Minor complications were any problem identified that did not require surgical management.

Results: Incidence for major and minor complications in the UTTA group was 2.3% and 24.4%, respectively. Incidence for major and minor complications in the SS-BTTA group was 12.5% and 26.1%, respectively. Single-stage bilateral tibial tuberosity advancement procedures had a four- to five-fold increase in odds of a major complication (p <0.050) compared to UTTA.

Clinical significance: The findings of our study indicate that SS-BTTA procedures are associated with an increased risk of major complications compared to UTTA procedures.

Keywords: Tibial tuberosity advancement; bilateral; cranial cruciate ligament.