🔍 Key Findings
- TPA decreased significantly from preoperative to follow-up (mean 5.89°; p < 0.001), and from immediate postoperative to follow-up (mean 2.2°; p = 0.018)
- Use of tension band in addition to K-wires did not significantly improve TPA reduction compared to K-wires alone
- Cranial K-wire positioning may attenuate growth at the cranial tibial physis, allowing relative caudal growth to reduce TPA over time
- Dynamic TPA reduction may reduce risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture even when initial TPA is high
- Small breeds (e.g., French Bulldogs) were overrepresented; further research is needed in larger breeds with more growth potential
- Surgical reduction is difficult, but perfect alignment may not be essential if TPA reduces postoperatively
- Radiographic TPA measurement was reliably performed with low interobserver variability
- K-wire removal at 3–8 weeks may facilitate continued growth in growing dogs
