Find in Library

The aim of this study was to monitor short-term osteoarthrosis progress in relation to a recently introduced novel extracapsular method called the Tight Rope procedure and after Lateral Suture with nylon in cruciate-deficient dog stifle joints. Twelve dogs were included in the study. Treatment type was not randomised. Mediolateral radiographs from 12 stifle joint were evaluated preoperatively and six months after surgery. A modified scoring system for evaluation of osteoarthrotic changes was used. The initial osteoarthrotic score in the TightRope group ranged from three to six and in the Lateral Suture group from 0 to 11. In the TightRope group 66.6% of dogs had an osteoathrotic score difference of ≤ 5 and 33.3% dogs had an osteoarthrotic score difference of > 5. For the Lateral Suture group 50% of dogs had an osteoarthrotic score difference of ≤ 5 and 50% dogs had an osteoarthrotic score difference of > 5. The Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative osteoarthrotic scores (P = 0.0038). No significant differences were noted between TightRope and Lateral Suture groups in terms of changes in mean radiographic osteoarthrotic score preoperatively and at the six-month postoperative end point. Both groups had numerically higher radiographic scores six months after surgery.