← Articles

Mclean et al: Effect of Plate Inclination and Osteotomy Positioning on Rock-back following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy in Dogs
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology 6, 2024

🔍 Key Findings Summary

  • 95 TPLO procedures reviewed retrospectively with follow-up radiographs
  • Rock-back defined as increase in tibial plateau angle (TPA) ≥2° from immediate post-op to recheck
  • 21% of stifles (20/95) experienced rock-back
  • Mean ΔTPA among rock-back cases = 3.2° ± 2.6°
  • No implant failures or tibial tuberosity fractures were reported in these cases
  • Plate inclination and exit cut angle (ECA) were not associated with increased risk of rock-back (p = 0.4 and 0.2)
  • Authors hypothesize that compression across osteotomy in vivo may mitigate torsional effects from ECA, unlike in gap-model studies
  • Emphasizes that rock-back is relatively common, even with well-placed implants

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

How critical is this paper for crushing the Boards?

🚨 Must-know. I’d bet on seeing this.

📚 Useful background, not must-know.

💤 Skip it. Doubt it’ll ever show up.

Thanks for the feedback!
‍We'll keep fine-tuning the articles vault.
Oops — didn’t go through.
‍Mind trying that again?
← Articles

Mclean et al: Effect of Plate Inclination and Osteotomy Positioning on Rock-back following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy in Dogs
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology 6, 2024

🔍 Key Findings Summary

  • 95 TPLO procedures reviewed retrospectively with follow-up radiographs
  • Rock-back defined as increase in tibial plateau angle (TPA) ≥2° from immediate post-op to recheck
  • 21% of stifles (20/95) experienced rock-back
  • Mean ΔTPA among rock-back cases = 3.2° ± 2.6°
  • No implant failures or tibial tuberosity fractures were reported in these cases
  • Plate inclination and exit cut angle (ECA) were not associated with increased risk of rock-back (p = 0.4 and 0.2)
  • Authors hypothesize that compression across osteotomy in vivo may mitigate torsional effects from ECA, unlike in gap-model studies
  • Emphasizes that rock-back is relatively common, even with well-placed implants

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

Join Now to Access Key Summaries to more Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology Articles!
Log InSign Up

Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In McLean 2024 et al., what was the average increase in TPA among dogs with rock-back?

A. 2.1° ± 1.2°
B. 2.7° ± 2.1°
C. 3.2° ± 2.6°
D. 3.8° ± 1.9°
E. 4.5° ± 2.8°

Answer: 3.2° ± 2.6°

Explanation: Dogs with rock-back had an average TPA increase of 3.2° ± 2.6°:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
In McLean 2024 et al., which variables were found to have no significant association with rock-back?

A. Blade size and age
B. Plate inclination and exit cut angle (ECA)
C. Postoperative TPA and dog weight
D. Surgical limb and breed
E. Meniscal status and implant type

Answer: Plate inclination and exit cut angle (ECA)

Explanation: Neither plate inclination nor ECA were associated with rock-back in this clinical study (p = 0.4 and 0.2):contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
In McLean 2024 et al., why might ECA not have correlated with rock-back in this study?

A. Patients had implant loosening
B. TPAs were inconsistently measured
C. A gap model was used in the study
D. ECA was not radiographically assessed
E. Compression across osteotomy reduced interfragmentary motion

Answer: Compression across osteotomy reduced interfragmentary motion

Explanation: Unlike biomechanical gap models, clinical compression may resist rotational forces from ECA:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
In McLean 2024 et al., what was the mean postoperative TPA in dogs **without** rock-back?

A. 5.5°
B. 6.6°
C. 6.8°
D. 7.5°
E. 8.0°

Answer: 6.8°

Explanation: The mean follow-up TPA in non-rock-back dogs was 6.8°:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
In McLean 2024 et al., on TPLO rock-back, what proportion of cases demonstrated rock-back (TPA increase ≥2°)?

A. 11%
B. 17%
C. 21%
D. 28%
E. 35%

Answer: 21%

Explanation: 21% of TPLOs (20/95) showed TPA increase ≥2°, defining rock-back:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Elevate Your Infection Control Protocol

Implement Simini Protect Lavage for superior, clinically-proven post-operative skin antisepsis and reduced infection risk.

Start Your Free Trial TodayStart Your Free Trial

Review More Key Summaries from this Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology Journal Issue

Heikkila

 et al: 

Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial of Polylactide–Collagen Scaffold in Treatment of Shoulder Osteochondritis Dissecans in Dogs

Mclean

 et al: 

Effect of Plate Inclination and Osteotomy Positioning on Rock-back following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy in Dogs

Sisk

 et al: 

Biomechanical Principles of Intramedullary Nails in Veterinary and Human Medicine

Curuci

 et al: 

Double-Cut Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy for the Management of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Insufficiency in Dogs with an Excessive Plateau Angle: Early Clinical Results in 16 Dogs

Papacella

 et al: 

Spinal Neuronavigation for Lumbar Plate Fixation in Miniature Breed Dogs