Surgical Correction of Medial Patellar Luxation including Release of Vastus Medialis without Trochleoplasty in Small Breed Dogs: A Retrospective Review of 22 Cases

In 22 dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL) of grade 3 or lower, resection of the vastus medialis oblique muscle, patellar anti-rotational suture, fascia lata overlap, and tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT) were undertaken to stabilize the patella without trochleoplasty. Data including signalment, clinical symptoms, details of the affected hindlimb, preoperative and postoperative patellar luxation grades, postoperative recovery time, and postoperative complications were obtained from medical records. The grade of lameness was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Mean (${\pm}SEM$) grade of medial patellar luxation was $2.64{\pm}0.11$ preoperatively and $0.2{\pm}0.27$ postoperatively. Mean (${\pm}SEM$) grade of lameness was $1.73{\pm}0.27$ preoperatively and $0.18{\pm}0.15$ postoperatively. Patellar reluxation occurred in 1 of 22 (4.5%) cases requiring additional surgery. At final follow-up, 2 of the 22 (9.0%) dogs, including one with reluxation, had occasional lameness. Client-based questionnaire results demonstrated significant improvements in all parameters. Surgical treatment of MPL that included resection of the vastus medialis oblique without femoral trochlear groove deepening improved surgical outcomes in dogs with up to grade 3 MPL.