Short-term outcomes and complications of 65 cases of porous TTA with flange: a prospective clinical study in dogs

Background: Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCLR) is the most common orthopaedic cause of lameness in the hind limb in dogs. Many surgical treatments have been described, but tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) is one of the most commonly used today. Since it was first described, TTA has evolved to reduce major complications and to arrest the progression of osteoarthrosis. The aim of this study was to assess a surgical technique called Porous TTA with flange prospectively. This study was performed in 61 dogs that underwent 65 Porous TTA with flange procedures, to validate it as an alternative CrCLR treatment. Complications and clinical outcomes (pain, lameness, weight bearing, flexion, extension, crepitation and atrophy) were reported over 3 months, i.e. at 3, 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: The results showed a positive clinical outcome, a minor complication rate of 47.69% at the first review 3 weeks postoperatively, 10.77% at the second one (6 weeks after the surgery) and 4% at the third one (at 12 weeks). Major complications were observed only at the last review, with one case that had an infection requiring implant removal; this represented 1.5% of cases. Variables evaluated for a relationship with complication scores and improvement were body condition score, sex, age, breed, body weight, breed size, side of the affected limb, traumatic anamnesis and time of lameness before surgery. No relationship was detected. Conclusions: Clinical outcomes and complications show that Porous TTA with flange is an efficient alternative for surgical treatment of CrCLR in dogs