Surgical management of luxation of the superficial digital flexor muscle tendon (SDFT) using a modified block recession calcaneoplasty without subsequent tarsal joint immobilization
🔍 Key Findings
- Modified block recession calcaneoplasty restored full clinical function in all dogs (11 limbs in 9 dogs) at long-term follow-up.
- Objective gait function improved significantly, with symmetry index improving from 0.20 ± 0.13 preoperatively to 0.05 ± 0.03 at long-term follow-up (p = .03).
- No routine postoperative tarsal immobilization was used, yet stable tendon positioning and excellent outcomes were achieved in most cases.
- Overall complication rate was 45%, including 18% major complications requiring revision surgery and 27% minor complications.
- Only one reluxation occurred, secondary to fracture of an overly narrow medial calcaneal wall; successful revision prevented further recurrence.
- CT confirmed persistent deepening of the calcaneal groove and uneventful healing with variable osseous remodeling at long-term follow-up.
- Ultrasonography demonstrated normalization of tendon fiber architecture at long-term evaluation despite heterogeneous appearance in many tendons at 6 weeks.
- Most dogs were Shetland Sheepdogs (8/9), supporting breed predisposition, and all luxations were lateral.
Simini Surgery Review Podcast
🔍 Key Findings
- Modified block recession calcaneoplasty restored full clinical function in all dogs (11 limbs in 9 dogs) at long-term follow-up.
- Objective gait function improved significantly, with symmetry index improving from 0.20 ± 0.13 preoperatively to 0.05 ± 0.03 at long-term follow-up (p = .03).
- No routine postoperative tarsal immobilization was used, yet stable tendon positioning and excellent outcomes were achieved in most cases.
- Overall complication rate was 45%, including 18% major complications requiring revision surgery and 27% minor complications.
- Only one reluxation occurred, secondary to fracture of an overly narrow medial calcaneal wall; successful revision prevented further recurrence.
- CT confirmed persistent deepening of the calcaneal groove and uneventful healing with variable osseous remodeling at long-term follow-up.
- Ultrasonography demonstrated normalization of tendon fiber architecture at long-term evaluation despite heterogeneous appearance in many tendons at 6 weeks.
- Most dogs were Shetland Sheepdogs (8/9), supporting breed predisposition, and all luxations were lateral.
Simini Surgery Review Podcast
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