A retrospective study on patellar desmopathy following surgical resolution of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in 28 dogs

Abstract

Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is the most common orthopedic condition in dogs, causing lameness, joint instability, and discomfort due to its role in knee stability. Surgical treatment, particularly osteotomies in the proximal tibia, is the preferred approach, with tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA), tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and the modified Maquet technique (MMT) being widely used. A common postoperative complication is patellar desmopathy—thickening of the ligament that is detectable on radiographs and can cause further discomfort. However, studies on this complication in TPLO are limited, and there are no direct comparisons of ligament thickening between these surgical techniques. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ligament desmopathy in TPLO, examine any associations with age, sex, or weight, and compare findings with those from other techniques. A retrospective analysis was conducted, with ligament thickness measured at three points during postoperative follow-up, which had a mean of approximately 2.5 months. Results showed an 86.7% prevalence of desmopathy, with average thicknesses of 3.90 mm proximally, 4.69 mm at mid-ligament, and 5.98 mm distally. These findings align with previous TPLO studies and suggest that TPLO may cause greater ligament thickening than TTA or MMT, particularly in the distal portion