A technique for arthrodesis of the canine tarsocrural joint

Pantarsal arthrodesis with a customised medial or lateral bone plate in 13 dogs

Pantarsal arthrodesis was performed in 12 dogs using a customised medial bone plate, and in one using a lateral bone plate. The dogs' ages ranged from 14 months to 144 months (median 30 months) and their bodyweights ranged from 7 to 66 kg (median 32 kg). Before the surgery they had been lame on a pelvic limb for between one and 16 months (median eight months). In eight of the dogs the fixation of the plate was augmented with a calcaneotibial positional screw, and in one of them with a talocrural lag screw. A cranial half cast was applied to 12 of the dogs and an external skeletal fixator to the other for six to eight weeks. Five complications were recorded in four of the dogs. Between 29 and 156 weeks postoperatively the clinical outcome was graded as excellent in six dogs, good in six dogs and fair in the other.