TATE Elbow Clinical Experience

Since the introduction of the original Canine TATE Total Elbow Replacement (TER) system in 2008, ongoing advancements in implant design, surgical instrumentation, and operative technique have been aimed at improving osseointegration and surgical precision. These iterative refinements have led to the development of the third-generation TATE Elbow® implant. This study retrospectively evaluates clinical outcomes associated with the use of this most recent iteration.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 28 canine patients treated with the third-generation TATE Elbow® implant. Data collection included pre- and postoperative radiographic evaluations, gait analysis using the Gait-4-Dogs system, video documentation, and qualitative feedback from pet owners and referring veterinarians. Due to the broad geographic distribution of cases, longitudinal gait analysis was not available for all patients.

Among the 28 patients who underwent TER at Sun Valley Animal Center, 27 demonstrated good to excellent clinical outcomes. Three patients received staged bilateral elbow replacements, with contralateral procedures performed following successful recovery from the initial surgery. One additional patient recently underwent CT imaging and has been identified as a candidate for contralateral TER utilizing Patient-Specific Instrumentation (PSI) and 3D-printed cutting guides; surgery is currently pending.
Complications included one case of late postoperative infection, which ultimately required limb amputation at four months postoperatively. When available, objective gait analysis demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in limb function. The majority of procedures were performed on dogs with advanced elbow dysplasia that had proven refractory to both conservative management and prior surgical interventions. Two implants were placed following failure of previous procedures: one after humeral condylar fracture repair and another after failure of a Canine Unicompartmental Elbow (CUE) implant.

The third-generation TATE Elbow® implant offers a promising treatment option for canine patients with end-stage elbow disease unresponsive to conventional therapies.