1. Complications Associated with
Corrective Surgery for Patellar
Luxation in 109 Dogs
G.I.Arthurs, S.J.Langley-Hobbs
Summarised by Kertu Brutus

2. About the article
 Retrospective
 Medical records reviewed (109 dogs,
131 surgeries)
 Complication risks for different
correction techniques calculated
 Clinical relevance: estimation of
postoperative complication risk

3. Patellar luxation
 Common orthopedic condition
 Cause:
abnormal conformation of hind limb
 Small dog breeds mostly
 Congenital, sometimes trauma-based
 4 grades of severity
 Medial-lateral (MPL more common)
 Unilateral, bilateral

4.  Concurrent diseases common:
 Hip luxation or dysplasia,
 Femoral fractures,
 Muscle tears
 Tendon or ligament rupture

5. Medial patellar
luxation

6. Surgical correction
 femoral trochlear sulcoplasty
 tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT)
 capsular/retinacular release
 capsular/retinacular imbrication
 anti-rotational suture placement

7. Femoral groove deepened,
tibial crest moved laterally,
wire (arrow) added to fixate tibial crest

8. Post-op complications
Major:
 Patellar reluxation
 TTT implant migration
 Tibial tuberosity fracture avulsion
 Fracture of the proximal tibia and fibula
 Septic arthritis
 Trochlear wedge migration
 Development of degenerative joint
disease
 Inability to fully extend the stifle joint
 Failure to correct luxation at surgery

9. Post-op complications
Minor:
 Patellar luxation that did not require
further surgery
 Seroma formation
 Wound dehiscence

10. Results
 Frequency of complications was 18%
 Trochlear sulcoplasty and
capsular/retinacular TTT reduced
complications
 Capsular/retinacular release had
higher complication risk
 Other methods did not affect
complication risk

11.  Higher complication risk:
larger dogs
higher grade of
luxation
 In conclusion: TTT and trochlear
sulcoplasty
should be considered in all surgical cases
of patellar luxation

12. Thank you for listening

13. References
 “Complications Associated with
Corrective Surgery for Patellar
Luxation in 109 Dogs” 2006 Arthurs,
G. I., Langley-Hobbs, S. J. Veterinary
Surgery 35:559–566
 “Patellar luxations” 2004 Griffon, D.
American College of Veterinary
Surgeons