Cranial Tibial Wedge Osteotomy in Five Cats with Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture

Cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture in cats is less common than in dogs, and its optimal treatment remains a subject of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of cranial tibial wedge osteotomy technique (CTWO) as a dynamic stabilization technique in cats with CrCL rupture, describing the technical aspects and clinical outcomes obtained. Five cases with a confirmed diagnosis of CrCL rupture between 2020 and 2024 were included in this study. All patients were treated with CTWO using specific osteosynthesis locking plates for this technique in dogs and a complementary cerclage wire. Radiographic rechecks were performed at 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively and clinical evaluations were performed 24 hours, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and six months postoperatively in every patient. Successful and complete bone healing of the tibial osteotomy was observed in every case. No intraoperative or postoperative complications related to implants or soft tissues were recorded. All cats achieved a complete functional recovery without lameness at the last recheck six months after surgery. The technique was performed without significant technical difficulties, providing adequate stability and favorable clinical outcomes in all cases. Although the use of a cranial tibial wedge osteotomy in combination with a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) was reported by Hoot et al to treat a cruciate ligament rupture in a cat presenting a deformity of the proximal tibia (Hoot et al), to the authors´ knowledge the use of the cranial tibial wedge osteotomy as single technique to treat the CrCL rupture in cats has not been previously reported in the literature. These preliminary results support the use of CTWO as an effective surgical alternative for the treatment of CrCL rupture in cats. However, further studies with a larger number of cases and a longer follow-up are required to evaluate better its clinical application, outcomes and influence on osteoarthritis progression in the long term.