Long‐term outcome in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament disease evaluated using the canine orthopaedic index

Background Cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) is common in dogs, but studies on the long‐term treatment outcome are scarce. Methods The long‐term outcome in a cohort of 71 dogs with CCLD treated with tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO, n = 18), tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA, n = 23) or lateral fabellotibial suture (LFS, n = 30) was evaluated using the canine orthopaedic index. Results The risk of stiffness and lameness was increased in dogs treated with TPLO (stiffness: incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.33, p = 0.015; lameness: IRR 1.34, p = 0.020) or TTA (stiffness: IRR 1.26, p = 0.035; lameness: IRR 1.31, p = 0.026) when compared to LFS at a median follow‐up time of 4.6 years. Limitations No follow‐up veterinary examination was performed. Data were collected from only two university animal hospitals, and thus, a referral bias towards more complicated cases is possible, which may limit the generalisability of the results. Conclusion Clinicians can use the results to inform dog owners about the expected long‐term outcome in dogs with CCLD.