To evaluate the effect of a 3.5 mm tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) locking compression plate on serial postoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA) maintenance, short-term osteotomy healing, and complication rates in dogs weighing 45 to 70 kg treated for naturally occurring cranial cruciate ligament disease.
Retrospective study. The difference between the mean postoperative TPA and the mean 6-week re-evaluation TPA was 1.9 ± 2.27 degrees (p < 0.0001). The patient's weight and limb laterality were found to have a significant effect on the TPA difference, which increased by 0.144 degrees for each kg increase in body weight and by 2.114 degrees for a left hindlimb compared with a right hindlimb. The median healing score was 3/5, with a range of 2 to 5. Eight out of 36 dogs experienced postoperative complications, with 2/36 dogs developing surgical site infections.
The use of a 3.5 mm TPLO locking compression plate in dogs weighing 45 to 70 kg revealed a significant change in TPA difference and poor bone healing. Complication rates were similar to those of previous studies.
