Preliminary experiences of the triple tibial osteotomy procedure: tibial morphology and complications.

OBJECTIVE: To document the effect of variable tibial morphology on the planning and execution of the triple tibial osteotomy (TTO) procedure in dogs and complications encountered while becoming familiar with the technique. METHODS: The records of 21 consecutive cases that had a TTO performed were reviewed. Preoperative tibial morphology was assessed. Modifications in the described technique and complications were documented. Postoperative outcome was evaluated using a client-based questionnaire. RESULTS: The size of the tibial wedge ostectomy was modified because of variable tibial morphology in four dogs (19 per cent) to avoid over or under correction of the tibial plateau angle (TPA). Intraoperatively, fracture through the caudal tibial cortex occurred in nine cases (41 percent) and through the distal tibial crest cortex in four cases (18 percent). Major complications occurred in five (23 per cent) of cases with four (18 per cent) requiring further surgery. The client questionnaire results demonstrated significant improvements in all parameters and no significant difference from the preinjury status. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: TPA measurement is recommended when planning a TTO to avoid over or under correction of the TPA. Despite frequent minor complications, it appears that the TTO is an effective procedure for management of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the dog.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurement of bone-mineral density in the distal aspect of the limbs in racing Greyhounds.

OBJECTIVE: To determine those bones in the distal aspect of the limbs of Greyhounds with fatigue fractures that have the greatest left-to-right differences in bone-mineral density (BMD). SAMPLE POPULATION: Limbs obtained from 20 Greyhounds. PROCEDURE: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the distal aspect of each limb and isolated bones from 10 dogs with a fracture of the central tarsal bone (CTB) of the right pelvic limb was performed. High-resolution scanning was performed on excised bones, and BMD measurements of CTB also were obtained from limbs of dogs without a CTB fracture. RESULTS: The BMD of the accessory carpal bone and calcaneus was not significantly different from the BMD of those bones in the contralateral limb. Although BMD of the CTB of the entire right pelvic limb and isolated bones from dogs with a CTB fracture was lower, compared with values for the entire left pelvic limb, values for isolated CTB from dogs without a CTB fracture were not significantly different. Metacarpal or metatarsal and thoracic or pelvic limb significantly affected BMD for measurements of the entire limb and isolated bones. Left-to-right differences in BMD were greatest for metacarpal 5. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Asymmetric adaptive remodeling of metacarpal 5 can be detected by DXA. The potentially confounding effects of CTB fracture and unknown racing history made it difficult to interpret BMD changes in the CTB of these specimens. Densitometry could be developed as an in vivo assessment for risk of fractures in racing Greyhounds.

Pathological fracture of the femur secondary to haematogenous osteomyelitis in a weimaraner.

A seven-year-old male weimaraner developed an acute-onset non-weightbearing pelvic limb lameness without a history of significant trauma. Radiographs demonstrated an oblique fracture of the femur associated with a lytic bone lesion, while cytology and histopathology of the lesion were consistent with osteomyelitis. A pure growth of Streptococcus intermedius was obtained from culture of affected tissue samples. The fracture healed without complication after rigid internal fixation and antibiotic therapy.