Premium
A retrospective evaluation of complications associated with forkless tibial tuberosity advancement performed in primary care practice
Author(s) -
Matchwick Alexandra I. M.,
Bridges Janis P.,
Scrimgeour Andrew B.,
Worth Andrew J.
Publication year - 2021
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.13502
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , retrospective cohort study , clinical practice , referral , surgery , population , medical record , clinical significance , physical therapy , family medicine , physics , environmental health , optics
Objective To report postoperative complications associated with forkless tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) performed in primary care veterinary practice and to compare results with previous publications. Study design Retrospective study. Sample population Three hundred seventy‐four forkless TTAs in 329 dogs performed by six nonspecialist veterinarians. Methods Medical records of dogs treated with a standard forkless TTA (2013‐2016) and with at least 12 months of postoperative follow‐up were reviewed. Complications recorded by the referring practice or the operating veterinarian were classified as minor (medically treated) or major (surgically treated). Results Complications occurred in 57 of 374 (15.2%) TTAs; 28 (7.5%) complications were major, and 29 (7.7%) complications were minor. Postliminary meniscal injuries were documented in 12 of 374 (3.2%) TTAs (12/57 major complications) and were more common when the ratio of cage size to bodyweight was ≤0.25 ( P = .019). Mean TTA (cage size) was greater in this population than what has been previously reported for a lower median bodyweight. Conclusion The incidence of major complications was low and within the range previously reported for TTA in referral practice after adjusting for study design. The magnitude of advancement was greater, and the incidence of postliminary meniscal injury was lower than what has been previously reported, after accounting for dogs that had a preliminary meniscal injury or medial meniscal release. Clinical significance Forkless TTA may be successfully performed by experienced veterinarians in primary care practice with a low rate of complications. The incidence of postliminary meniscal injury may be reduced by a greater degree of advancement of the tibial tuberosity.