TPLO Surgery
The Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgery has become the gold standard for orthopaedic surgeries performed on dogs who have torn their cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). When a dog tears its CCL, every time the dogs goes to stand or put weight on the leg, the femur slides/rubs on the back of the tibia. This rubbing causes pain and inflammation, which is very uncomfortable. This is why most dogs with a torn CCL will not put any weight on the leg, or if they do, they will just toe touch the leg to the ground.
The philosophy behind the TPLO surgery is to completely change the dynamics of the dog’s knee so that the torn ligament becomes irrelevant to the stability of the knee itself. The idea is based off taking the steep part of the tibia, making a circular cut and rotating the top of the tibia so that it is flatter. Once the bone is cut and the tibial plateau is rotated, where the femur and the tibia communicate, the femur can no longer slide backwards. Since we are making a cut in the bone, it is secured with a locking plate and screw system. The knee is immediately stabilized. By doing so, this eliminates the need for the cranial cruciate ligament entirely and returns stability to the joint immediately.
Following an orthopaedic procedure dogs typically return to normal function within 12 weeks with proper physical rehabilitation.
The philosophy behind the TPLO surgery is to completely change the dynamics of the dog’s knee so that the torn ligament becomes irrelevant to the stability of the knee itself. The idea is based off taking the steep part of the tibia, making a circular cut and rotating the top of the tibia so that it is flatter. Once the bone is cut and the tibial plateau is rotated, where the femur and the tibia communicate, the femur can no longer slide backwards. Since we are making a cut in the bone, it is secured with a locking plate and screw system. The knee is immediately stabilized. By doing so, this eliminates the need for the cranial cruciate ligament entirely and returns stability to the joint immediately.
Following an orthopaedic procedure dogs typically return to normal function within 12 weeks with proper physical rehabilitation.
Image 1: This a post op radiograph from the TPLO procedure from one of our patients we've done. As you can see, we make a circular cut in the bone and rotate the bone to alter the dynamic of the knee to return stability to the joint
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Image 2: This is another view of the plate and screws used for the TPLO procedure. The plate is positioned correctly and the screws are good length. This is the same patient as Image 1
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Below is a video by Dr. Bauer explaining the TPLO procedure.
Tight Rope CCL Repair Surgery
The Tight Rope CCL technique was developed to provide a minimally invasive method for extra-capsular stabilization of the knee. This technique differs from the conventional extra-capsular stabilization in that it is a bone to bone fixation and utilizes a method for more accurate isometric implant placement.
Following surgical evaluation of the CCL and meniscus, using specific landmarks, bone tunnels are made through the femur and tibia. The fibertape is passed through these tunnels. Toggle buttons are inserted and used to apply appropriate tension to the fibertape providing stabilization of the knee.
Following an orthopaedic procedure dogs typically return to normal function within 12 weeks with proper physical rehabilitation.
Following surgical evaluation of the CCL and meniscus, using specific landmarks, bone tunnels are made through the femur and tibia. The fibertape is passed through these tunnels. Toggle buttons are inserted and used to apply appropriate tension to the fibertape providing stabilization of the knee.
Following an orthopaedic procedure dogs typically return to normal function within 12 weeks with proper physical rehabilitation.
TPLO Recovery Stories
Ava has had TPLO surgeries on both of her hind legs. The most recent TPLO surgery was done on her left leg. Follow Ava's recovery story to see how the TPLO surgery can improve mobility function.
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Murphy is a well loved boy! He is on the road to recovery from obesity and a TPLO surgery. Follow Murphy's recovery story to see how our rehabilitation treatments can improve with weight loss and post-op surgery.
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