Effect of tibial tuberosity advancement on cranial tibial subluxation in the feline cranial cruciate deficient stifle joint: An ex vivo experimental study

Effect of Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy on Cranial Tibial Subluxation in the Feline Cranial Cruciate Deficient Stifle Joint: An Ex Vivo Experimental Study

“…After being euthanatized for reasons unrelated to this study, the hindlimbs free of orthopaedic disease were prepared as previously described. 9 The preoperative tibial plateau angle was measured on mediolateral radiographs using a technique previously described. 11 Limb preparation included removal of soft tissue, femoral osteotomy and freezing.…”

“…As previously described in a similar experiment in cats, 9 radiopaque metal spheres, 1 mm in diameter, were glued on the medial aspect of each limb at the distal and proximal aspect of the femoral and tibial diaphysis, the mid-diaphysis of the second metatarsal bone and the caudo-proximal aspect of the calcaneus. 9,[12][13][14] Another marker was glued on the femoral origin of the medial collateral ligament. A radiolucent hollow stem containing two markers was inserted mediolaterally into the proximal tibia perpendicular to the long axis of the tibia, under fluoroscopic guidance.…”

“…The quadriceps muscle and Achilles tendon mechanisms were simulated, as previously reported, using braided polyester, a spring and turnbuckles. 9,12 The external fixator tube holding the limb was connected to a custom-made limb press with linear guidance system. The test setup was similar to that previously described in the dog 12 and cat 9 and took into account the specific limb angles of a walking cat during the early stance phase, with a stifle angle of 120°.…”

“…Cranial tibial subluxation (CTS) was measured, as previously described, 9,12,13 from the distance between two vertical lines drawn through the markers (1) glued on the femoral insertion of the medial collateral ligament and (2) positioned immediately caudal to the medial collateral ligament on the tibia. The distance measured on an intact cranial cruciate ligament was used as reference and assigned a CTS of 0 mm.…”

“…7 Eleven cases of tibial plateau levelling osteotomy in cats, with good clinical outcomes, have also been described. 8 Recently, however, the ability of tibial osteotomies to stabilize the feline cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifle has been questioned 9 as a simplified cadaveric model failed to demonstrate any stabilizing effect of tibial tuberosity advancement on the feline cranial cruciate ligament deficient stifle. Whether tibial plateau levelling osteotomy is efficient in stabilizing the feline stifle can also be questioned.…”