Retrospective study of surgical treatment of various patellar luxations in dogs from 2004 to 2007

Today, the treatment of patellar luxations using current techniques has become a very common procedureas part of the surgical treatment. Nevertheless, there are some doubts about such procedures in restraining the patella in lower grade cases. The purpose of the present retrospective clinical study was to determine theefficacy of the soft tissue and bone reconstructive procedures used for various grades of patellar luxation.Forty small and toy breed dogs between the ages of 6 months to 7 years have been used in this study.Following the medical examination, it was seen that all dogs suffered from knee pain and unilaterally orbilaterally intermittent to constant non-weight bearing lameness. All dogs with the exception of two,recovered back to the normal movement within three months. Re-luxation was observed in two dogs thatwere treated for patellar reconstruction using soft tissue techniques in grade I. These findings suggest thatimprovement can be achieved in patellar luxation, following appropriate soft tissue and bone reconstructiveprocedures. However, re-luxation limits the validity of the use of soft tissue reconstructive procedures inoperated dogs with grade I luxation. Therefore, the authors have suggested considering a surgical treatmentthat utilizes combinatorial techniques, in which soft tissue and bone reconstructive techniques are integratedto achieve definite improvement in grade I, surgery before the maturity in grade IV, and no delay onundergoing an operation in grade I, II, and III.