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Influence of methods of joint inspection during tibial plateau leveling osteotomy on the radiographic appearance of the patellar tendon
Author(s) -
Owen Deandra J.,
Manley Rebecca,
Casale Sue A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/vsu.12942
Subject(s) - medicine , arthrotomy , cruciate ligament , patellar ligament , radiography , stifle joint , surgery , arthroscopy , patellar tendon , tendon , knee joint , tendonitis , ligament , anterior cruciate ligament
Objective To determine the influence of methods of joint inspection during tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on radiographic appearance of the patellar tendon. Study design Retrospective study. Animals Client‐owned dogs (191) treated with TPLO (199). Methods Data collected from medical records included signalment, weight, duration of anesthesia and surgery, preoperative and postoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA), cranial cruciate ligament status, meniscal status, and meniscal treatment. Method of joint inspection was recorded as (1) arthroscopy (AR), (2) craniomedial parapatellar arthrotomy (CrMA), or (3) caudomedial arthrotomy (CdMA). The radiographic thickness of the patellar tendon (PTT) was measured preoperatively and at 8‐12 weeks postoperatively. Radiographic signs of patellar tendonitis were graded as 0‐2 on the basis of the severity of changes. Results Thirty‐nine dogs (41 stifles) underwent AR, 86 dogs (87 stifles) underwent CrMA, and 70 dogs (71 stifles) underwent CdMA. Durations of surgery ( P < .001) and anesthesia ( P < .001) were longer when joints were inspected by AR than by arthrotomies. PTT was greater after AR than after CrMA ( P = .004) and CdMA ( P < .001). The proportion of dogs with grade 1 or grade 2 PTT was greater after AR (78.04%) than after CrMA (52.87%, P = .0065) and CdMA (28.17%, P < .001). Conclusion The PTT was thicker 8‐12 weeks after TPLO when stifles were inspected arthroscopically rather than via arthrotomies. Clinical significance The method of stifle exploration during TPLO influences the postoperative radiographic appearance of the patellar tendon and may contribute to patellar tendinopathy.