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