Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences / Department of Clinical Sciences / James K. Roush / Interday and intraday stance analysis variability in dogs with hindlimb lameness Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the same day and next-day repeatability of data collected with a Pet Safe Stance Analyzer on animals with naturally-occurring lameness presented for veterinary orthopedic examination. Our hypothesis was that dogs would show consistent repeatability with regards to body weight distribution on the Pet Safe Stance analyzer. Materials and Methods: Interday Variability Trial: Thirty-one consecutive dogs presenting for hindlimb lameness were included. The PetSafe Stance Analyzer was used with the dog standing in their natural standing position with each foot placed in its respective quadrant on the Stance Analyzer. A minimum of 5 valid measurements were collected and averaged to find the mean distribution of weight on each limb. This process was repeated the following day with the same handler and recorder. Intraday Variability Trial: Fifteen consecutive dogs were placed on the Pet Safe Stance analyzer and measurements were collected for each of 5 trials identical to the interday group. Four additional assessment trials followed with reintroduction of the animal to the room at each assessment. Results: Interday Variability Trial: There were no significant differences between Day 1 and Day 2 measured variables except for a significant increase in the Forelimb Symmetry index on Day 2 compared to Day 1. Lin’s Correlation Coefficients % body weight measured on Day 1 compared to Day 2 were significantly correlated on the lame hindlimb (0.524) and contralateral hindlimb (0.733). Intraday Variability Trial: There were no significant differences across trials for measured variables of % weight on the lame hindlimb, contralateral hindlimb, ipsilateral forelimb, or contralateral forelimb. Lin’s Correlation coefficients showed strong correlation between trials for the lame hindlimb (0.682), contralateral hindlimb (0.817), body weight (0.863), and hindlimb symmetry index (0.726). Clinical Significance: A commercial stance analyzer is a repeatable method of measurement of weight-bearing on lame hindlimbs of dogs between days and in repeated trials over one day. Day-to-day forelimb weight-bearing in dogs who are lame on a hindlimb is more variable, likely because of trial to trial changes in weight redistribution from lameness. Comparison of the effect of dog, surgeon, and TPLO surgical procedure variables on improvement of eight-week post-operative static weight-bearing Objective: To compare the effect of surgeon and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) procedure variations on the outcome of TPLO in naturally-occurring cranial cruciate-deficient stifles. Materials and methods: Records from 142 dogs receiving a TPLO were reviewed for information regarding surgical procedure, status of meniscus at the time of surgery, surgeon identity, ACVS diplomate or resident, meniscal release, progression of healing at the progress evaluation based on radiographic interpretation, and complications encountered. The primary outcome measure was static force on the operated limb at recheck on a PetSafe Stance Analyzer ͣ. Results: Recheck tibial plateau angle (TPA) was negatively and significantly correlated with improvement (r=-0.2132, p=0.013). Post-operative, and Recheck TPA’s were all significantly correlated with one another. The amount of TPA change from initial to immediate post-operative values was significantly correlated with the Initial TPA (r=0.628, p<0.001). Surgeon, surgical experience, arthrotomy, meniscal damage, meniscal intervention, complications, post-operative TPA, and initial TPA had no significant effect on weight-bearing at recheck. Clinical Significance: TPLO’s show improvement of 4.58% BW on the operated limb at 6-12 week rechecks on a stance analyzer. Surgeon, surgical experience, arthrotomy, meniscal damage, meniscal intervention, complications, post-operative TPA, and initial TPA have no effect on surgical outcome.

Objective - To compare preoperative tibial plateau leveling osteotomy planning using the common tangent method to the current conventional method and evaluate the effect on tibial translation and patellar ligament angle following rotation of the tibial plateau. Study Design – Cadaveric study. Seven paired canine pelvic limbs. Methods- Radiographs of the stifle were taken at 135° of extension prior to and following rotation of the tibial plateau under load (0N and 30N). The tibial plateau of each limb was rotated both according to the common tangent and conventional method. Tibial plateau angle (TPA), tibial translation, and the patellar ligament angles (PLA) were measured radiographically following rotation of the tibial plateau. Results- There was no significant difference between planning methods with regards to the amount of rotation of the tibial plateau or position of the tibia relative to the femur following rotation. There was no significant association between the postoperative tibial plateau angle and position of the tibia relative to the femur between groups. There was no significant difference between the patellar ligament angles following rotation based on the common tangent or conventional method preoperative TPLO planning. Conclusion- Both the conventional and common tangent TPLO planning results in adequate proximal tibial rotation to achieve a PLA of approximately 90°, thereby counteracting the compressive shear forces during ambulation. The TPA for both groups following rotation had no significant impact on the amount of cranial or caudal tibial translation relative to the femur. / Master of Science / Cranial cruciate ligament disease is one of the most common diseases of the stifle in dogs, and causes great discomfort. The tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) procedure is designed to change the geometry of the tibia's articular surface, such that the femur no longer slides in a caudal direction during weight bearing. Conventional methods of planning do not consider the curved anatomical surface of the tibial condyles, but rather treat the condyles like a flat surface. The goal of this study was to compare the current conventional planning methods with a new technique, the common tangent method, and to evaluate if the common tangent method improves accuracy and tibial translation after surgery. Results of this study show that there was no statistically significant difference in rotation and tibial position between the two planning groups. However, it was found that the common tangent method consistently required less rotation of the tibial articular surface than the conventional method, but still achieved similar postoperative tibial translation. This implies that there may be overcorrection when performing the TPLO under the current conventional method, which could predispose the patients to strain on the caudal cruciate ligament and patellar ligament leading to discomfort. The common tangent method is a feasible way of planning for a TPLO procedure, and shows potential utility in cases where excessive tibial rotation would otherwise cause increased risk for complications or necessitate a more complex procedure.

Objective: To determine the ability of the Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) to restore normal joint kinematics in a cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)-deficient stifle through a loaded range of motion. Methods: Paired pelvic limbs from 12 dogs were compared in an in vitro biomechanical study. Each limb was placed in a custom designed jig at 120° of stifle extension under an axial load of 20% body weight. Electromagnetic motion tracking sensors were placed on the distal femur and proximal tibia. A force was applied at approximately 10 N/sec to mimic the action of the quadriceps muscle. Force application allowed the limb to move from 120° to maximal extension. Positional data was acquired at 60 points/second. Each limb was tested under normal, CrCL-deficient, and TPLO-treated conditions. Results: The TPLO failed to normalize CTT within the CrCL-deficient stifle; however, values trended towards intact values throughout the range of motion. No significant differences were noted in internal rotation in any of the three conditions from 120° – 137°. Hyperextension values did not differ significantly between conditions. Conclusion: Data from this biomechanical model suggests that the TPLO fails to neutralize CTT throughout a loaded range of motion. Internal rotation and hyperextension values were not found to differ significantly between intact, CrCL-deficient and TPLO repaired stifles. The effectiveness of the TPLO in restoring normal biomechanics is more significant at greater angles of flexion. / Master of Science

O reparo do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCCr) tem sido motivo de preocupação e pesquisas para desenvolver técnica cirúrgica efetiva. Recentemente novas técnicas tem se proposto a reestabelecer a biomecânica e função do joelho, chamadas de técnicas dinâmicas, entre elas Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) e Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA). Embora efetivas, várias são as complicações relatadas, e uma delas é o espessamento e desmite patelar, mais frequente com a técnica de TPLO, mas recentemente também relatada para a técnica de TTA. Vários foram os mecanismos propostos para explicar este fenômeno, embora a causa continue desconhecida. Baseado nisso é que a nossa pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar de forma biomecânica ex vivo, as mudanças na tensão do ligamento patelar submetido às técnicas de TPLO e TTA, quando comparadas entre elas e com membros pélvicos sem osteotomia (íntegro e RLCCr). Foram testados de forma biomecânica ex vivo dez pares de membros pélvicos de cães entre dois a sete anos de idade e pesos entre 25 a 35 kg, sem predileção de raça ou sexo. As peças foram submetidas à carga de 30% do peso corporal, e testadas em três situações diferentes: a primeira com a articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar íntegra, numa segunda etapa com RLCCr, e por último com as técnicas de osteotomia, respeitando a regra, membros pélvicos direitos com TTA e membros pélvicos esquerdos com TPLO, e cada uma delas foi testada em duas situações de ângulos, a primeira 145 graus na articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar e 135 graus na articulação tíbio-társica e uma segunda situação invertendo os valores. Os dados foram submetidos a testes pareados não paramétricos de Friedman e Wilcoxon. Em quanto a força do ligamento patelar os resultados permitiram concluir que não existe diferença significativa entre o grupo íntegro e RLCCr, que existe diferença entre as técnicas de TTA e TPLO, quando comparadas com a situação íntegro e RLCCr e que existe diferença de força do ligamento patelar entre TPLO 145 versus TPLO 135 e entre TTA 145 versus TTA 135. / Cranial cruciate ligament repair (RLCCr) has been the focus of research to develop an effective surgical technique. Currently new dynamic techniques such as Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) and Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) have been proposed to restore the biomechanical knee function. Several complications have been reported despite of technique effectiveness. Patellar ligament inflammation and desmitis are usually reported as complication for TPLO but it was also reported for TTA. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon but the cause remains unknown. Based on this complication, our objective was to evaluate the patellar ligament tension changes in the TPLO and TTA using an ex vivo model comparing both techniques one each other and with normal hind limbs. The sample population was ten pairs of cadaveric hind limb from dogs weighing 25 to 35 kg and with two to seven years of age without any predilection for breed or sex. The pieces were axially loaded using a material testing machine with 30% body weight in three different situations. The first test was performed with the CCL intact followed by the second test with the LCC transection and finally with osteotomy techniques for the third test. TPLO and TTA were always performed in the left and right hind limb respectively. The tests were conducted in two variations of angles joints. The first variation maintained a stifle angle of 145 degrees with the tibio-tarsal angle of 135 degrees and the second variation had inverted the values between these joints. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon test with repeated measures. In much the strength of the patellar ligament the results showed that there is no significant difference between the group intact and RLCCr that exists between the different techniques TTA and TPLO, when compared with the situation of integrity and RLCCr and strength that exists apart from the ligament TPLO patellar between 135 and 145 versus TPLO between TTA 145 versus 135.

O reparo do ligamento cruzado cranial (LCCr) tem sido motivo de preocupação e pesquisas para desenvolver técnica cirúrgica efetiva. Recentemente novas técnicas tem se proposto a reestabelecer a biomecânica e função do joelho, chamadas de técnicas dinâmicas, entre elas Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) e Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA). Embora efetivas, várias são as complicações relatadas, e uma delas é o espessamento e desmite patelar, mais frequente com a técnica de TPLO, mas recentemente também relatada para a técnica de TTA. Vários foram os mecanismos propostos para explicar este fenômeno, embora a causa continue desconhecida. Baseado nisso é que a nossa pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar de forma biomecânica ex vivo, as mudanças na tensão do ligamento patelar submetido às técnicas de TPLO e TTA, quando comparadas entre elas e com membros pélvicos sem osteotomia (íntegro e RLCCr). Foram testados de forma biomecânica ex vivo dez pares de membros pélvicos de cães entre dois a sete anos de idade e pesos entre 25 a 35 kg, sem predileção de raça ou sexo. As peças foram submetidas à carga de 30% do peso corporal, e testadas em três situações diferentes: a primeira com a articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar íntegra, numa segunda etapa com RLCCr, e por último com as técnicas de osteotomia, respeitando a regra, membros pélvicos direitos com TTA e membros pélvicos esquerdos com TPLO, e cada uma delas foi testada em duas situações de ângulos, a primeira 145 graus na articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar e 135 graus na articulação tíbio-társica e uma segunda situação invertendo os valores. Os dados foram submetidos a testes pareados não paramétricos de Friedman e Wilcoxon. Em quanto a força do ligamento patelar os resultados permitiram concluir que não existe diferença significativa entre o grupo íntegro e RLCCr, que existe diferença entre as técnicas de TTA e TPLO, quando comparadas com a situação íntegro e RLCCr e que existe diferença de força do ligamento patelar entre TPLO 145 versus TPLO 135 e entre TTA 145 versus TTA 135. / Cranial cruciate ligament repair (RLCCr) has been the focus of research to develop an effective surgical technique. Currently new dynamic techniques such as Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) and Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) have been proposed to restore the biomechanical knee function. Several complications have been reported despite of technique effectiveness. Patellar ligament inflammation and desmitis are usually reported as complication for TPLO but it was also reported for TTA. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon but the cause remains unknown. Based on this complication, our objective was to evaluate the patellar ligament tension changes in the TPLO and TTA using an ex vivo model comparing both techniques one each other and with normal hind limbs. The sample population was ten pairs of cadaveric hind limb from dogs weighing 25 to 35 kg and with two to seven years of age without any predilection for breed or sex. The pieces were axially loaded using a material testing machine with 30% body weight in three different situations. The first test was performed with the CCL intact followed by the second test with the LCC transection and finally with osteotomy techniques for the third test. TPLO and TTA were always performed in the left and right hind limb respectively. The tests were conducted in two variations of angles joints. The first variation maintained a stifle angle of 145 degrees with the tibio-tarsal angle of 135 degrees and the second variation had inverted the values between these joints. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon test with repeated measures. In much the strength of the patellar ligament the results showed that there is no significant difference between the group intact and RLCCr that exists between the different techniques TTA and TPLO, when compared with the situation of integrity and RLCCr and strength that exists apart from the ligament TPLO patellar between 135 and 145 versus TPLO between TTA 145 versus 135.

Einleitung: Der vordere Kreuzbandriss ist die häufigste Lahmheitsursache der Hintergliedmaße beim Hund und führt zu einer Kniegelenksinstabilität im Sinne einer kranio-kaudalen Translationsbewegung. Die Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) ist eine der populärsten Operationsmethoden zur dynamischen Stabilisierung des kaninen Kniegelenks nach einer Ruptur des vorderen Kreuzbandes. Postoperativ kommt es bei Anwendung dieser Technik häufig zu einer Verdickung des Ligamentum patellae (Lig. patellae). Diese kann asymptomatisch sein, aber auch mit einer Lahmheit und Druckdolenz im Sinne einer Tendinose einhergehen. Ziele der Untersuchungen: Die Ziele der vorliegenden Arbeit waren die Bestimmung der Prävalenz einer kranio-kaudalen Instabilität des kaninen Kniegelenks bei kompletter Ruptur des vorderen Kreuzbandes vor und nach der TPLO sowie die Bestimmung der Prävalenz und Risikofaktoren einer Verdickung des Ligamentum patellae bei diesen Gelenken. Tiere und Methoden: Insgesamt wurden 37 Kniegelenke mit einer kompletten vorderen Kreuzbandruptur untersucht. Dabei wurden die Daten von 21 Kniegelenken retrospektiv ausgewertet und für 16 Kniegelenke prospektiv erhoben. Zur Sicherung der Diagnose und Beurteilung der Menisken wurden alle Kniegelenke zehn bis 14 Tage vor der Stabilisierung arthroskopiert. War eine Meniskuspathologie vorhanden, wurde eine Teilmeniskektomie durchgeführt. In der retrospektiven Gruppe wurde im Rahmen der TPLO ein postoperativer Tibiaplateauwinkel (TPA) von 5° und in der prospektiven Gruppe von 0° angestrebt. Die Patienten wurden präoperativ und im Zeitraum von sechs bis acht Wochen nach einer TPLO mit Hilfe der uniplanaren fluoroskopischen Kinematografie auf einem Laufband untersucht. Es erfolgte eine visuelle, quantitative Auswertung der entstandenen Videosequenzen durch zwei unabhängige Untersucher, wobei eine sichtbare kranio-kaudale Translationsbewegung als Kniegelenksinstabilität gewertet wurde. Zusätzlich wurde eine Vermessung zur Beurteilung der postoperativen Verdickung des Ligamentum patellae bei 36 der 37 Kniegelenke an einem proximalen und einem distalen Messpunkt durchgeführt. Diese Messung erfolgte ebenfalls präoperativ und im Zeitraum von sechs bis acht Wochen nach der TPLO. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt waren 28 von 37 Kniegelenken in der Sagittalebene stabil (75,68 %). In der prospektiven Gruppe traten signifikant häufiger stabile Kniegelenke auf (p = 0,02). Der postoperative TPA war in der prospektiven Gruppe signifikant kleiner als in der retrospektiven Gruppe (p = 0,01). Die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Stabilität steigt bei niedrigem postoperativen TPA an (Steigungsparameter −0,22, p = 0,03). Es konnte kein statistisch signifikanter Einfluss des Rotationswinkels auf die Kniegelenksstabilität festgestellt werden (p = 0,42). Zwischen Meniskusteilresektion und postoperativer Stabilität konnte ebenfalls kein statistisch signifikanter Zusammenhang ermittelt werden (p = 0,63). Bei allen Kniegelenken fand nach der TPLO eine Verdickung des Lig. patellae statt. Diese war am distalen Messpunkt stärker als proximal (p = 0,00). Zwischen den beiden Gruppen war kein signifikanter Unterschied bezüglich der Dickenzunahme der Patellarsehne zu verzeichnen (p = 0,13). Bei einem niedrigeren postoperativen TPA zeigte sich eine signifikante Zunahme der Verdickung des Lig. patellae an beiden Messpunkten (proximal: p = 0,02; distal: p = 0,03). Es zeigte sich außerdem eine tendenziell stärkere Dickenzuname am distalen Messpunkt bei einer schmalen Tuberositas tibiae (Steigungsparameter −0,08, p = 0,54) und an beiden Messpunkten bei einem hohen Rotationswinkel (Steigungsparameter 0,10, proximal: p = 0,18; distal: p = 0,09). Schlussfolgerung: Da in der prospektiven Gruppe ein postoperativer TPA von 0° angestrebt wurde, wurden auch signifikant kleinere TPA und mehr stabile Kniegelenke als in der retrospektiven Gruppe erzielt. Der Rotationswinkel und die Meniskusteilresektion haben keinen Einfluss auf die kranio-kaudale Kniegelenksstabilität nach einer TPLO. Bei allen Kniegelenken fand eine Verdickung des Lig. patellae postoperativ statt, die am distalen Messpunkt stärker war. Einen Risikofaktor dafür stellt ein niedriger postoperativer TPA dar. Die kraniokaudale Ausdehnung der Tuberositas tibiae nach der Osteotomie und der Rotationswinkel scheinen einen Einfluss auf die Entwicklung einer solchen Verdickung zu haben. Für die Beurteilung der klinischen Relevanz dessen sind weiterführende Studien notwendig.