Veterinary Surgery February 2026 – Ortho Part 2: TPLO Stability Markers & Achilles Repair vs Arthrodesis

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we continue our orthopedic coverage from the February 2026 issue of Veterinary Surgery with two studies that challenge how we define stability and success in orthopedic surgery.One paper introduces a simple radiographic marker that may outperform traditional measurements after TPLO. The other tackles a high-stakes clinical dilemma: primary tendon repair versus arthrodesis in Achilles mechanism injuries.In this episode:✅ Picavet et al. — A retrospective study of 163 dogs evaluating cranial tibial subluxation (CTS) and popliteal sesamoid position before and after TPLO. While only 14.4% of dogs showed preoperative sesamoid displacement, every case returned to normal position postoperatively, making it a reliable and immediate indicator of restored mechanical stability. Importantly, osteotomy position (ideal vs. distal up to 5 mm) did not significantly affect postoperative stability, reinforcing that functional neutralization of cranial thrust—not perfect geometry—is the true goal. ✅ Wylie et al. — A multi-center retrospective study of Achilles mechanism injuries comparing primary tendon repair with immobilization versus pantarsal arthrodesis. While overall complication rates appeared similar, catastrophic complications occurred in 26.1% of tendon repairs and 0% of arthrodesis cases. Failures were driven not by the tendon repair itself, but by immobilization-related complications such as pin tract infections and cast sores, fundamentally shifting how surgeons should approach treatment planning. Together, these studies highlight a central surgical principle: true success is measured not just by technique, but by how well we manage the forces—and risks—acting on the repair after we leave the OR.🎓 Journal Articles DiscussedPicavet et al. — Radiographic assessment of popliteal sesamoid position and cranial tibial subluxation in canine stifle joints undergoing TPLO: A retrospective study of 163 dogs Wylie et al. — Complications and outcomes following surgical management of common calcaneal tendon pathology in 80 dogs📚 From the February 2026 issue of Veterinary Surgery🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample?Learn More: www.simini.comRequest a Sample: https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit