The effect of polydioxanone hemicerclage suture on the occurrence of fracture during tibial tuberosity advancement with an elongated bi‐directional hinged osteotomy

Objective To investigate the effect of hemicerclage suture on the occurrence of fractures during advancement of an elongated bi‐directional hinged osteotomy (EBHO) for tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) in dogs. Study design Experimental ex vivo study. Animals Canine cadavers (n = 14) Methods A uniform EBHO was performed in 28 cadaveric hind limbs (n = 28) from 14 skeletally mature, medium‐sized, mixed breed dogs. Paired limbs were randomly assigned with or without hemicerclage suture. The osteotomy was slowly spread (TTA) at a rate 1.5 mm every 15 seconds to a maximum distance of 24 mm or until a fracture was detected as an audible crack, visible propagation of the distal osteotomy or transverse fracture of the cortical bridge. The occurrence of fractures was compared between limbs with hemicerclage and without hemicerclage (control) suture using a chi‐square analysis. The advancement distance at the time of fracture was compared using a paired t test. A P value