Center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy combined with a coplanar cranial closing wedge ostectomy to manage cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency in dogs with excessive tibial plateau angle

Objective To describe outcomes of dogs with excessive tibial plateau angle (eTPA) and cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease treated with center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy (CBLO) and cranial closing wedge ostectomy (CCWO). Study design Retrospective study. Animals Twenty‐one dogs. Methods Medical records of dogs with CrCL disease and eTPA (>34°) treated with CBLO/CCWO were reviewed. Signalment, body weight, intra‐articular structure appearance, TPA (preoperatively, postoperatively, and at osteotomy healing), postoperative function, and complications were recorded. Results Twenty‐one dogs (28 stifles) with CrCL disease/eTPA underwent CBLO/CCWO. Twenty stifles had complete CrCL tears and eight tears were partial. Mean age and weight of dogs were 4 years (range, 1‐9) and 27 kg (range, 4‐65), respectively. Medial menisci were normal in 20 stifles, torn in 5, and degenerative in 3. All lateral menisci were normal. The caudal cruciate ligament was normal in 26 stifles and partially torn in 2. Mean TPA was 43° preoperatively, 10° postoperatively, and 10° at final recheck. Grade 4 healing occurred in all osteotomies by 8 weeks postoperatively. Complications included one pin migration, breakage of two proximal screws (1 case), one late‐onset caudolateral band CrCL tear, two late‐onset meniscal tears, and one surgical site infection. Eighteen dogs returned to full function, and three dogs achieved acceptable function, at a mean of 27 months. Conclusion Center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy/CCWO resulted in grade 4 osteotomy healing by 8 weeks, minimal complications, and acceptable to full return to function. Clinical significance Center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy/CCWO should be considered to treat canine CrCL disease/eTPA.