Comparative anatomy of the proximal tibia in healthy Labrador Retrievers and Yorkshire Terriers

Summary

Objective 1) To provide specific quantitative data of tibial conformation in Labrador Retrievers and Yorkshire Terriers; 2) To compare the tibial conformation of these two breeds; and 3) To compare these data with previously reported data.

Methods Mediolateral radiographs of the stifle were obtained from 30 consecutive Labrador Retrievers and 30 consecutive Yorkshire Terriers with an angle of extension of 135°. The tibial plateau angle (TPA), the angle between the tibial plateau and the patellar tendon (PTA), the Z angle, the distal tibial axis/proximal tibial axis angle (DPA), and the relative tibial tuberosity width (rTTW) were measured and compared among the two breeds.

Results The breed had a significant effect on all of the measured variables (p <0.01): Labrador Retrievers had a lower TPA (25 ± 3° compared to 30 ± 4°), a lower Z angle (58.8 ± 3.2° compared to 69.2 ± 4.5°), a lower DPA (4.5 ± 2.3° compared to 10.8 ± 4.3°), and a lower rTTW (0.74 ± 0.1 compared to 0.86 ± 0.1) than Yorkshire Terriers. The PTA was greater in Labrador Retrievers compared to Yorkshire Terriers (106.9 ± 3.9° compared to 103.7 ± 6.5°). Four correlations were found to be significant: the DPA angle was correlated with the TPA, the Z angle, and the rTTW. The TPA was also correlated with the Z angle.

Clinical significance Clinical significance: The variation in tibial conformation between breeds should be taken into account when studying the role of each measured parameter in the pathology of cruciate disease. When the relevance of each of the aforementioned measured parameters is better understood, it may help determine the most appropriate surgical treatment.

Keywords

Tibia - stifle - cranial cruciate ligament - Yorkshire - Terrier - Labrador Retriever

• References

• 1 Johnson JA, Austin C, Breur GJ. Incidence of canine appendicular musculoskeletal disorders in 16 veterinary teaching hospitals from 1980 to 1989. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 1994; 7: 56-59.
• 2 Innes JF, Barr AR. Clinical natural history of the postsurgical cruciate deficient canine stifle joint: year 1. J Small Anim Pract 1998; 39: 325-332.
• 3 Jackson J, Vasseur PB, Griffey S. et al. Pathologic changes in grossly normal menisci in dogs with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 218: 1281-1284.
• 4 Aragon CL, Budsberg SC. Applications of evidence-based medicine: cranial cruciate ligament injury repair in the dog. Vet Surg 2005; 34: 93-98.
• 5 Macias C, McKee WM, May C. Caudal proximal tibial deformity and cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small-breed dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2002; 43: 433-438.
• 6 Perry K, Fitzpatrick N. Tibial tuberosity advancement in two cats with cranial cruciate ligament deficiency. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2010; 23: 196-202.
• 7 Glassman M, Hofmeister E, Weh JM. et al. Radiographic quantitative assessment of caudal proximal tibial angulation in 100 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Vet Surg 2011; 40: 830-838.
• 8 Guastella DB, Fox DB, Cook JL. Tibial plateau angle in four common canine breeds with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, and its relationship to meniscal tears. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21: 125-128.
• 9 Mostafa AA, Griffon DJ, Thomas MW. et al. Proximodistal alignment of the canine patella: radiographic evaluation and association with medial and lateral patellar luxation. Vet Surg 2008; 37: 201-211.
• 10 Buote N, Fusco J, Radasch R. Age, tibial plateau angle, sex, and weight as risk factors for contralateral rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in Labradors. Vet Surg 2009; 38: 481-489.
• 11 Dennler R, Kipfer NM, Tepic S. et al. Inclination of the patellar ligament in relation to flexion angle in stifle joints of dogs without degenerative joint disease. Am J Vet Res 2006; 67: 1849-1854.
• 12 Inauen R, Koch D, Bass M. et al. Tibial tuberosity conformation as a risk factor for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2009; 22: 16-20.
• 13 Renwick AI, McKee WM, Emmerson TD. et al. Preliminary experiences of the triple tibial osteotomy procedure: tibial morphology and complications. J Small Anim Pract 2009; 50: 212-221.
• 14 Osmond CS, Marcellin-Little DJ, Harrysson OL. et al. Morphometric assessment of the proximal portion of the tibia in dogs with and without cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2006; 47: 136-141.
• 15 Bush MA, Bowlt K, Gines JA. et al. Effect of use of different landmark methods on determining stifle angle and on calculated tibial tuberosity advancement. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2011; 24: 205-210.
• 16 Cabrera SY, Owen TJ, Mueller MG. et al. Comparison of tibial plateau angles in dogs with unilateral versus bilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture: 150 cases (2000-2006). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008; 232: 889-892.
• 17 Zeltzman PA, Pare B, Johnson GM. et al. Relationship between age and tibial plateau angle in dogs with cranial cruciate rupture. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2005; 41: 117-120.
• 18 Wilke VL, Conzemius MG, Besancon MF. et al. Comparison of tibial plateau angle between clinically normal Greyhounds and Labrador Retrievers with and without rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 221: 1426-1429.
• 19 Reif U, Probst CW. Comparison of tibial plateau angles in normal and cranial cruciate deficient stifles of Labrador retrievers. Vet Surg 2003; 32: 385-389.
• 20 Guerrero TG, Geyer H, Hassig M. et al. Effect of conformation of the distal portion of the femur and proximal portion of the tibia on the pathogenesis of cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs. Am J Vet Res 2007; 68: 1332-1337.
• 21 Read RA, Robins GM. Deformity of the proximal tibia in dogs. Vet Rec 1982; 111: 295-298.
• 22 Selmi AL, Padilha Filho JG. Rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament associated with deformity of the proximal tibia in five dogs. J Small Anim Pract 2001; 42: 390-393.
• 23 Talaat MB, Kowaleski MP, Boudrieau RJ. Combination tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and cranial closing wedge osteotomy of the tibia for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifles with excessive tibial plateau angle. Vet Surg 2006; 35: 729-739.
• 24 Fitzpatrick N, Solano MA. Predictive variables for complications after TPLO with stifle inspection by arthrotomy in 1000 consecutive dogs. Vet Surg 2010; 39: 460-474.
• 25 Steinbert EJ, Prata RG, Palazzini K. et al. Tibial tuberosity advancement for treatment of CrCL injury: complications and owner satisfaction. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2011; 47: 250-257.
• 26 Casale SA, McCarthy RJ. Complications associated with lateral fabellotibial suture surgery for cranial cruciate ligament injury in dogs: 363 cases (1997-2005). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009; 234: 229-235.
• 27 Robinson DA, Mason DR, Evans R. et al. The effect of tibial plateau angle on ground reaction forces 4-17 months after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in Labrador Retrievers. Vet Surg 2006; 35: 294-299.
• 28 Ritter MJ, Perry RL, Olivier NB. et al. Tibial plateau symmetry and the effect of osteophytosis on tibial plateau angle measurements. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2007; 43: 93-98.
• 29 Hoffmann DE, Miller JM, Ober CP. et al. Tibial tuberosity advancement in 65 canine stifles. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2006; 19: 219-227.
• 30 Schwandt CS, Bohorquez-Vanelli A, Tepic S. et al. Angle between the patellar ligament and tibial plateau in dogs with partial rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Am J Vet Res 2006; 67: 1855-1860.
• 31 Colborne GR, Innes JF, Comerford EJ. et al. Distribution of power across the hind limb joints in Labrador Retrievers and Greyhounds. Am J Vet Res 2005; 66: 1563-1571.
• 32 Lister SA, Roush JK, Renberg WC. Digital measurement of radiographic tibial plateau angle. A comparison to measurement on printed digital images. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21: 129-132.
• 33 Unis MD, Johnson AL, Griffon DJ. et al. Evaluation of intra- and interobserver variability and repeatability of tibial plateau angle measurements with digital radiography using a novel digital radiographic program. Vet Surg 2010; 39: 187-194.