Tibial tuberosity advancement in two cats with cranial cruciate ligament deficiency

Abstract

Two Domestic Shorthaired cats were diagnosed with longstanding lameness attributed to cranial cruciate ligament deficiency without any history of trauma. One cat had a previous operation in which the lateral nylon suture technique was used, and the other cat was affected by a partial tear of the cranial cruciate ligament. Tibial tuberosity advancement was carried out in both patients, which resulted in long-term resolution of lameness for both. The results of these cases concur with previous studies performed on canine patients in terms of viability of technical application and satisfactory return to weight bearing postoperatively. Further investigation of tibial tuberosity advancement in feline patients is justified.

A modified Maquet technique for management of cranial cruciate avulsion in a cat

“…Radiographs of the left stifle were obtained under general anaesthesia at 120 degrees of flexion to allow preoperative planning (Perry & Fitzpatrick 2010) (Fig 1). A synovial effusion but no secondary osteoarthri tic change was noted.…”

“…Too cranial an osteotomy leads to difficulty in placing the cranial screw, while too caudal will raise the risk of iatrogenic fracture of the tibia. An MMT was performed in this case as a result of perceived advantages over TTA, namely in relation to cats having poor bone stock for TTA (Perry and Fitzpatrick 2010). Problems with accuracy of p late placement and siting of fork drill holes were not encountered neither was the need to place both the cage ear and plate on the TT.…”

“…The other main advantage was in the choice of screw type and placement. Utilising 2 mm titanium self-tapping screws for placement of t he cage screws reduced the problems associated with min imal bone stock noted by Perry and Fitzpatrick (2010) and did not require utilisation of wa shers as was suggested. The success of an MMT on this occasion, overcoming some of these previously encountered i ssues il lustrates that MMT may be preferable for application in cats.…”

“…) are used. Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) has also been reported to treat this injury (Perry & Fitzpatrick ).…”

“…Ex tracapsular surgical methods have been most full y described to treat CCL rupture in cats; whether lateral extracapsular sutures (Maitland et al 1998, Harasen 2005 or toggle methods (Kunkel et al 2009) are used. Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) has also been reported to tr eat this injury (Perry & Fitzpatrick 2010).…”