The tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is commonly performed for treatment
of cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in dogs. In order to be performed as described,
this procedure relies on consistent measurement of the tibial plateau angle (TPA)
on radiographs. This prospective study compared two radiographic methods for subsequent
TPA measurement with respect to measured angle and ease of determining landmarks for
measurement as determined by four observers. One method was the accepted standard
radiographic protocol outlined in the TPLO training seminars. The other method involved
a novel split image radiographic protocol not yet described in the literature. Participants'
subjective scores as to ease of identifying landmarks and determining TPA on radiographs
for each method were evaluated. Inter-observer TPA measurement variability was also
assessed for each method. The novel radiographic method was judged to be significantly
better in terms of ease of measuring TPA. Inter-observer measurement variability was
considered appropriate for recommending use of this novel method for radiographing
patients for TPA measurements.
Keywords
TPA - TPLO - radiographic methods - canine
