Double-Cut Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for the Management of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Insufficiency in Dogs with an Excessive Plateau Angle: Early Clinical Results in 16 Dogs.

DCTPLO effectively treats CrCL disease with tibial plateau angles up to 43.5°.

This study describes a modified surgical technique called double-cut tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (DCTPLO) for managing cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency in dogs with excessive tibial plateau angles (>34°). The technique involves making two cuts in the same plane to level the tibial plateau. Eighteen stifles in dogs were treated using DCTPLO, with evaluation of preoperative planning accuracy, technical feasibility, postoperative clinical outcomes, and radiographic follow-up over 120 days. Results demonstrated significant reduction in tibial plateau angle from a mean preoperative value of 39.4° (range 36°-43.5°) to 6.3° (range 3°-13°) postoperatively. Radiographic healing was achieved in 17 of 18 stifles within 60 days. Minor complications occurred in 4 of 18 stifles, none requiring additional surgery or clinical intervention. The technique proved reproducible and clinically applicable, effectively treating cruciate ligament disease even with severely elevated plateau angles up to 43.5°.

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