Tibial tuberosity conformation as a risk factor for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog

R. Inauen; D. Koch; M. Bass; M. Haessig

doi:10.3415/VCOT-07-08-0078

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2009; 22(01): 16-20
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-07-08-0078

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Tibial tuberosity conformation as a risk factor for cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog

Authors

R. Inauen

¹Koch & Bass Referral Practice for Small Animal Surgery, Diessenhofen, Switzerland
D. Koch

¹Koch & Bass Referral Practice for Small Animal Surgery, Diessenhofen, Switzerland
M. Bass

¹Koch & Bass Referral Practice for Small Animal Surgery, Diessenhofen, Switzerland
M. Haessig

²Large Animal Department, Section for Herd Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Summary

The influence of the tibial tuberosity conformation on cranial cruciate ligament (CrCl) rupture was evaluated and the size of the tibial tuberosity of healthy dogs (group H) was compared with dogs with CrCl rupture (group R) and dogs treated by tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) (group T). The medio-lateral radio-graphs of 219 stifle joints were evaluated. Relative tibial tuberosity width (rTTW), proximal tibial tuberosity angle (PTTA), tibial plateau angle (TPA), tibial width (TW) and tibial plateau length (TPL) were measured on each radiograph. Body weight (BW) was measured and relative body weight (rBW) was calculated. The data from group H was compared with that of group R and group T. Group H had significantly larger rTTW, lower BW, lower rBW and smaller PTTA than group R. A comparison of groups H and T showed that dogs from group H were significantly younger, had a lower BW, a lower rBW, a greater PTTA and a smaller rTTW. In each of the comparisons, the TPA and the TW/TPL were not significantly different. The conformation of the canine tibial tuberosity has a significant influence on CrCl rupture. We hypothesized that the smaller the tibial tuberosity width, the larger the cranial tibial thrust, which results in more rapid CrCL degeneration, thus leading to rupture in a younger population of dogs. The rTTW could be a helpful measurement for breeding selection. Only dogs with a rTTW of more than 0.90 should be used for breeding.

Keywords

Tibial tuberosity - cranial cruciate ligament rupture - breeding selection - tibial tuberosity advancement - dog

Full Text

References

References
1 Vasseur PB. Stifle joint. In Slatter D. (ed). Textbook of small animal surgery Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 1993: 1817-1865.
2 Moore KW, Read RA. Cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog--a retrospective study comparing surgical techniques. Aust Vet J 1995; 72: 281-285.
3 Vasseur PB, Pool RR, Arnoczky SP. et al. Correlative biomechanical and histologic study of the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs. Am J Vet Res 1985; 46: 1842-1854.
4 Beck P, Montavon PM. Was diagnostizieren Sie? Welche Behandlung schlagen Sie vor?. Schweizer Arch Tierheilkunde 1987; 129: 493-495.
5 Galloway RH, Lester SJ. Histopathological evaluation of canine stifle joint synovial membrane collected at the time of repair of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1995; 31: 289-294.
6 Lawrence D, Bao S, Canfield PJ. et al. Elevation of immunoglobulin deposition in the synovial membrane of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 1998; 65: 89-96.
7 Niebauer GW, Wolf B, Bashey RI. et al. Antibodies to canine collagen types I and II in dogs with spontaneous cruciate ligament rupture and osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1987; 30: 319-327.
8 Duval JM, Budsberg SC, Flo GL. et al. Breed, sex, and body weight as risk factors for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in young dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999; 215: 811-814.
9 Whitehair JG, Vasseur PB, Willits NH. Epidemiology of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1993; 203: 1016-1019.
10 Aiken SW, Kass PM, Toombs JP. Intercondylar notch width in dogs with and without cranial cruciate ligament injuries. Vet Comp Orthop Trauma-tol 1995; 8: 128-132.
11 Read RA, Robins GM. Deformity of the proximal tibia in dogs. Vet Rec 1982; 111: 295-298.
12 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.
13 Shelbourne KD, Davis TJ, Klootwyk TE. The relationship between intercondylar notch width of the femur and the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament tears. A prospective study. Am J Sports Med 1998; 26: 402-408.
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 Ultra-sound 2006; 47: 136-141.
15 Henderson RA, Milton JL. The tibial compression mechanism: a diagnostic aid in stifle injuries. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 1978; 14: 474-479.
16 Nisell R. Mechanics of the knee. A study of joint and muscle load with clinical applications. Acta Orthop Scand 1985; (Suppl) 216: 1-42.
17 Slocum B, Devine T. Cranial tibial thrust: a primary force in the canine stifle. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1983; 183: 456-459.
18 Baroni E, Matthias RR, Marcellin-Little DJ. et al. Comparison of radiographic assessments of the tibial plateau slope in dogs. Am J Vet Res 2003; 64: 586-589.
19 Morris E, Lipowitz AJ. Comparison of tibial plateau angles in dogs with and without cranial cruciate ligament injuries. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 218: 363-366.
20 Reif U, Hulse DA, Hauptman JG. Effect of tibial plateau leveling on stability of the canine cranial cruciate-deficient stifle joint: an in vitro study. Vet Surg 2002; 31: 147-154.
21 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.
22 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.
23 Venzin C, Howard J, Rytz U. et al. Tibial plateau angles with and without cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2004; 17: 232-240.
24 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.
25 Slocum B, Devine T. Cranial tibial wedge osteotomy: a technique for eliminating cranial tibial thrust in cranial cruciate ligament repair. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1984; 184: 564-569.
26 Montavon PM, Damur DM, Tepic S. Advancement of the tibial tuberosity for the treatment of cranial cruciate deficient canine stifle. In: Proceedings of the 1st World Orthopedic Veterinary Conference, Munich 2002; 152
27 Miller JM, Shires PK, Lanz OI. et al. Effect of 9 mm tibial tuberosity advancement on cranial tibial translation in the canine cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifle. Vet Surg 2007; 36: 335-340.
28 Apelt D, Kowaleski MP, Boudrieau RJ. Effect of tibial tuberosity advancement on cranial tibial subluxation in canine cranial cruciate-deficient stifle joints: an in vitro experimental study. Vet Surg 2007; 36: 170-177.
29 Slocum B, Slocum TD. Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy for repair of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the canine. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 1993; 23: 777-795.
30 Kowaleski MP, Apelt D, Mattoon JS. et al. The effect of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy position on cranial tibial subluxation: an in vitro study. Vet Surg 2005; 34: 332-336.