34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to compare the interfragmentary compression patterns produced by three different tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) plate designs.

Methods:

TPLO was performed in 15 canine tibia models (SYNBONE AG, Zizers, Switzerland) using 3D-printed guides for standardisation. Interfragmentary compression was assessed using pressure-sensitive films (Prescale, Fujifilm, Atherstone, UK). Three 3.5 mm TPLO plate designs were tested: (1) Synthes (S) (Synthes-Stratec, Solothurn, Switzerland), (2) Arthrex (A) (Arthrex, Naples, Florida, USA), and (3) Biocurve (B) (Movora, KYON AG, Hardturmstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland). Five measurements were obtained per method. The interfragmentary surface was divided into quadrants: Q1 (craniomedial), Q2 (craniolateral), Q3 (caudomedial), and Q4 (caudolateral). One-way ANOVA and post hoc tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results:

Significant differences in interfragmentary compression were observed among the TPLO plates (p < 0.001). The Biocurve plate exhibited the most uniform compression across all quadrants, achieving the highest pressures of all the tests in Q1 and Q2 (p < 0.001), also with significant compression in Q3 and Q4. The Arthrex plate provided moderate compression, with high pressures in Q1 and Q2 (p < 0.001) but more variability in Q3 and Q4 (p = 0.153). The Synthes plate consistently produced the lowest compression across the cranial quadrants (p < 0.001), with good compression caudally.

Conclusions:

The Biocurve TPLO plate generated the highest, most uniform interfragmentary compression, generating more compression particularly in the cranial quadrants. Further studies are needed to assess if this translates into improved healing outcomes.