2006-07: Project Six
What causes patellar tendon stress in dogs after TPLO surgery?
Drs. Cindy Shmon, Matt Johnson, and Kathleen Linn of WCVM; Dr. Michael Kowaleski of Ohio State University; and Glen Watson of the College of Engineering, U of S
Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is a relatively new surgical procedure for treating cranial cruciate ligament rupture, one of the most common orthopedic problems in dogs. The TPLO procedure is reported to improve long-term function and dramatically slows the progression of degenerative joint disease in large breed dogs. However, nearly 80 per cent of dogs that undergo TPLO surgery develop patellar tendinopathy or abnormal thickening of the patellar tendon (the tendon connecting the knee to the tibia). This often causes prolonged pain and lameness.
In this collaborative study, scientists will use a biomechanical testing model on the hind limbs of canine cadavers to measure the change in stress on the patellar tendon in association with two different positions of the osteotomy (the surgical levelling of the tibial plateau). Based on their results, the team can determine what aspects of the TPLO procedure ultimately cause patellar tendon stress.
