Objective: To report the complications and outcomes following surgical management of common calcaneal tendon (CCT) pathology in dogs.
Study design: Retrospective cohort study.
Sample population: A total of 80 dogs with CCT pathology underwent 89 surgeries.
Methods: Retrospective data were reviewed from five veterinary referral centers for dogs with CCT pathology that underwent surgical treatment (January 2011 to December 2021). Clients completed a Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire to assess long-term outcomes.
Results: Tendon repair with tarsocrural immobilization was performed in 46/89 limbs (51.7%), with three-loop pulley the most common suture pattern, used in 19/46 tendon repairs (41.3%). Pantarsal arthrodesis was performed in 32/89 limbs (36%) and temporary tarsocrural immobilization without tendon repair in 11/89 limbs (12.3%). Median time from surgery to final follow-up at the referral center was 10 weeks (range: 6-256 weeks). There was no difference in complication rate between tendon repair (56.5%) and pantarsal arthrodesis (42.8%) (p = .543). Tendon repair with tarsocrural immobilization had a significantly higher catastrophic complication rate (26.1%) than pantarsal arthrodesis (0%) (p = .005). A total of 23 LOAD questionnaires were returned. There was no difference in mildly affected dogs between the three surgical groups (p = .493).
Conclusion: Pantarsal arthrodesis and CCT repair surgeries had comparable short-term outcomes and complication rates. However, there is a greater risk of complications requiring revision surgery following temporary tarsocrural immobilization, with or without tendon repair, compared to pantarsal arthrodesis.
Clinical significance: The increased risk of revision surgery should be discussed with owners, considering the potential financial and treatment implications for their dogs.
