Permanent Iatrogenic Fibular Nerve Injury following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy

The aim of this study was to describe three dogs with permanent fibular nerve injury following tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO).

Fibular nerve injury following TPLO led to atrophy of the cranial tibial muscle, absent hock flexion and a mild lameness. Fibular nerve injury was confirmed in one case with electrodiagnostics. All three cases had a drill tract in the same location, on the caudal aspect of the tibia, immediately distal to the tibial osteotomy. Permanent fibular nerve injury following TPLO occurred with a more caudally positioned plate and care should be taken when drilling the tibia from medial to lateral in the region described.

Careful gait assessment at routine follow-up was required to identify this complication.