During the extension of the stifle joint, the patella tendon and quadriceps muscle pull in a cranial direction of the tibia. As the knee joints move from extension to flexion, the direction of the pull of the quadriceps muscle changes direction, pulling caudally as the angle of the stifle joint approaches 90°. By advancing the tibial tuberosity cranially to the point where the patellar tendon and tibial plateau are perpendicular to each other standing angle of the canine stifle, the quadriceps can only pull the tibia caudally, eliminating cranial thrust and converting it to a caudal thrust. Along with a model of the TTA, this is how I usually explain the process to a client.

What are the advantages of TTA over TPLO?

• Surgically, TTA is less invasive than a TPLO. The osteotomy is not nearly as aggressive, and the surgical dissection is less, as there is no need to elevate the cranial tibialis or popliteus muscles.
• TTA extends the lever arm of the stifle joint resulting in a knee that can be more easily extended; TPLO shortens the lever arm.
• TTA does not change the geometry of the joint or result in angular change; TPLO causes a slight varus from placing the joint into 20° of flexion permanently.
• TPLO causes a cranial shifting of the femur relative to the tibia resulting in increased pressures within the join; TTA increases the joint surface area to redistribute the pressure within the joint to a lower value.
• TTA decreases retropatellar forces, and hence chondromalacia; there is no patellar tendonitis postoperatively.

Normal Joint

The normal joint, viewed from the side, shows the upper bone, the femur and the lower bone, the tibia. The Tibial Plateau is the actual point of contact between the femur and the tibia. In this diagram, the Patellar Tendon is clearly visible.  It is this structure that must offset the abnormal forces that are created with a rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament.

Typical Joint Angle

In the typical joint, the angle formed between the Tibial Plateau and the Patellar Tendon is about 115 degrees when the leg is in a normal standing position.

Corrected Angle

The abnormal motion that occurs in a knee with a torn cruciate ligament is called Tibial Thrust.  After the TTA Surgery, the corrected angle is now 90 degrees, which will offset the forces in the knee that tend to make it unstable.

Surgical Appearance

This diagram shows the knee once it has been stabilized with the appropriate Titanium implants. These implants are very lightweight and are designed to stay in permanently.