How does cruciate ligament rupture treatment affect range of motion in dogs?

TPLO improves ROM better than TTA or TR post-operatively in canine CCL rupture.

This retrospective cohort study evaluated how three surgical techniques for treating cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture affect stifle joint range of motion (ROM) in dogs. The researchers reviewed clinical records of dogs treated with tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA), tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), and tight rope (TR) procedures, measuring extension angle, flexion angle, and lameness at baseline (T0), one month (T1), and six months (T6) post-surgery. Results demonstrated differential effects: TTA showed significant worsening of flexion at one month, TR demonstrated significant worsening of extension at one month, while TPLO achieved significant improvements in both extension and flexion. Notably, despite these ROM changes, all three procedures resulted in significant lameness improvement. At six months, ROM remained abnormal in 100% of affected joints across all treatment groups. These findings highlight that surgical technique selection influences ROM outcomes and suggests that postoperative rehabilitation protocols should be tailored based on the specific procedure performed to optimize functional recovery in canine patients.

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