Modified CCWO should be considered for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs with eTPA. In this case series, the described technique was associated with uneventful osteotomy healing without implant failures in all dogs, although radiographic follow-up was limited in some cases.

Objective: To determine how frequently routine follow-up radiographic findings would result in a change to the postoperative plan following tibial plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) in dogs. Study design: Retrospective study Sample population: Short-term group: 100 cases; intermediate-term group: 50 cases. Methods: Medical records of 100 consecutive cases meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed (the short-term group). The cases had no owner-perceived issues and underwent routinely prescribed radiographic follow up between 40 and 60 postoperative days after TPLO performed by one experienced surgeon. Complications identified on physical examination (PE) and radiographic examination (RE) were recorded, along with any changes to the postoperative plan. Medical records of 50 consecutive cases that had short-term and intermediate-term (≥180 days) REs and PEs were reviewed similarly (intermediate-term group).Results: Fifty-one cases in the short-term group had no complications on PE or RE. Forty-nine dogs were diagnosed with minor complications (patellar ligament desmitis, patella or fibula fracture, gait abnormalities): 42 on RE only; 6 on PE and RE; 1 on PE only. Exercise restriction was extended for 2 weeks in 2 cases with radiographic patellar ligament desmitis. Two cases in the intermediate-term group had minor complications at intermediate-term RE. No new PE or RE complications developed between short-term and intermediate-term evaluations. Conclusion: At routine rechecks of dogs with no owner-perceived issues after TPLO, 49% had minor complications but only 2% were deemed significant enough to alter patient management. The likelihood of new radiographic complications developing after short-term evaluation is low.

Objective To report the use and long‐term outcome of dogs with surgical site infection (SSI) after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPO), treated with an amikacin‐infused collagen sponge and implant removal. Study design Retrospective study. Animals Thirty‐one client‐owned dogs. Methods Medical records were reviewed for dogs with SSI after a TPLO that were treated with surgical implant removal and concurrent implantation of an amikacin‐infused collagen sponge. Relevant clinical and surgical data were recorded. The TPLO implants were routinely removed; the surgical site was swabbed for culture. The sponge was aseptically infused with amikacin prior to implantation. Postprocedure examinations consisted of visual inspection of the incision by the surgeon and lameness scoring. Results Thirty‐one dogs met all inclusion criteria. Median follow‐up time was 687 days. Short‐term examination after implant removal and sponge implantation revealed uneventful incisional healing in 24 dogs. Six (19.4%) dogs exhibited inflamed incision sites a median of 4 days (range, 3–9) postoperatively that resolved without additional treatment. One (3.2%) dog required empirical antibiotic treatment 7 days postoperatively but was lost to long‐term follow‐up. Long‐term follow‐up examination revealed no clinical evidence of SSI recurrence and no lameness in the remaining 30 cases. Conclusion Surgical implant removal and implantation of an absorbable collagen sponge infused with amikacin alone was an effective treatment for postoperative TPLO SSI. Clinical significance This procedure had a 96.8% long‐term resolution of SSI. It should be considered as a treatment option for TPLO SSI.

Objective To evaluate the effect of postoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA) following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on the risk of patella fracture during the convalescent period. Study Design Retrospective study. Sample Population Fracture group: 20 stifles; reference group: 65 stifles. Methods Medical records were reviewed for stifles with patellar fractures after a TPLO procedure (fracture group) and stifles with >180 days radiographic examination with no complications following TPLO (reference group). Stifle radiographs were masked to group and final TPA (fTPA) was measured, at the time of fracture diagnosis (fracture group) and at last follow‐up (reference group), using PACS software. TPAs in the fracture and reference groups were compared using the Wilcoxon rank‐sum test. Statistical significance was set at .05. Results Patellar fractures were diagnosed at a median of 69 days (range 31–189) after surgery. The median duration of follow‐up time for the reference group was 471 days (range 180–1868). Median fTPA for the fracture group was 1.4° (range [−10.3]–7.1). Median fTPA for the reference group was 4.1° (range [−3.9]–14.1). The odds of patellar fractures increased by 21.7% (95% CI: 8.6%–35.6%) for every 1° decrease in fTPA. Conclusion The risk of patella fractures increased as TPAs after TPLOs decreased. Clinical Significance Care should be taken to avoid excessive rotation during TPLO to decrease the likelihood of postoperative patellar fractures.

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