34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Medial and dorsomedial tarsometatarsal luxation is a relatively frequent lesion in dogs. Stabilization by screw and metallic wire has been described. The goal of this retrospective study is to add data about clinical and radiographic long-term outcome using this technique.

Methods:

Medical records of dogs presented to a single referral hospital in France between 2012 and 2023 with a medial or dorsomedial luxation treated with prosthetic ligament placement without cartilage debridement nor bone grafting were reviewed. More than 8 months after surgery, the owners of all dogs were contacted and questioned regarding the mobility of their pet. Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the tarsometatarsal joint were realized for long-term follow-up with a mean time of follow-up of 4 years.

Results:

20 dogs were included. All the owners reported that their pet had regained full or acceptable function of the affected limb. 13% (2/15) of dogs presented a lameness grade I. All tarsometatarsal joints were stable at reevaluation. Long term follow-up radiographs showed a partial (11/14) to complete (2/14) arthrodesis of the tarsometatarsal joint in 93% of cases. Complications were reported in 35% of dogs (7/20), mainly related to implant removal.

Conclusions:

Arthrodesis by prosthetic ligamentoplasty of a medial or dorsomedial tarsometatarsal sub-luxation showed a partial to total arthrodesis of stabilized joints in 93% of cases and return to full to acceptable function in 100% of cases. Tarsometatarsal cartilage debridement and cancellous bone grafting can therefore be questioned, leading to decreased patient morbidity and time of surgery.