Treatment of cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in small breed dogs with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), clinical and radiological evaluation of the results

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is one of the most common orthopedic issues affecting the hind limbs in dogs. This lesion leads to instability in the knee joint, accelerating the development of osteoarthritis and significantly restricting the dog's mobility. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery in treating CCL rupture in small breed dogs. This study includes 34 stifle joints from 31 small breed dogs with CCL rupture. All selected patients weighed 10 kg or less. TPLO surgery was performed on all cases, and pre- and postoperative tibial plateau angles (TPA) were measured to assess osteotomy healing radiographically. The surgical process, postoperative complications, and functional recovery outcomes were meticulously recorded. The results showed that TPA values remained within the ranges suggested by previous studies, and even in cases exceeding these ranges, functional recovery was effectively achieved. Postoperative complications were limited to minor issues such as delayed osteotomy healing and soft tissue irritation. No major complications were observed in the study. Post-surgery, all patients exhibited significant improvement in gait function. In veterinary surgery, TPLO is a technique that provides rigid stabilization and achieves high success rates. This study demonstrates that TPLO is an effective method for treating CCL rupture in small breed dogs and aims to contribute to clinical practice. Furthermore, the findings confirm that TPLO is a reliable and effective option compared to other stabilization methods in small breed dogs.