Dog Knee Injury

Prices for veterinary surgery vary greatly depending on where you are located no matter whether you choose TTA, TPLO, TR, or a lateral suture method.  The prices can also fluctuate due to the availability of a certain procedure, number of surgeons performing the surgery, and the size of your dog. A number of veterinary practices will include a number of weeks of post-op physical therapy, including hydrotherapy, as part of a package price for the surgery. It is important when comparing prices to understand what is included in the quoted price, so you are able to compare apples to apples.  Taking these factors into consideration can help to explain the wide variance in prices presently for the Tightrope (TR) CCL repair surgery. Read the rest of this entry »

The newest surgical technique to repair torn cranial cruciate ligaments in dogs is the tightrope procedure.  Tightrope CCL is an extracapsular technique which uses lateral suture stabilization in conjunction with a virtually indestructible material called FiberTape for knee joint stabilization.  The Fiber Tape is placed in the dog’s knee through a few small incisions, mostly done arthroscopically, which create tunnels through the bone, and is considered to be one of the least invasive surgical approaches to canine cruciate injury repair.  Read the rest of this entry »

How is Tightrope CCL Different from Extracapsular Imbrication or Traditional Repair?

The major difference between extracapsular imbrication/traditional repair methods and tightrope ccl is the way in which the knee joint is stabilized.  In a traditional CCL repair, a leader line (suture, or you can also think of this as a fishing line) is woven across the knee in a figure-eight pattern, connecting a bony protrusion on the femur to a small hole drilled in the top of the tibia.  The veterinary surgeon is able to access the knee through an incision on the knee a few inches long.   During the healing process, the leader line serves as a temporary way to stabilize the knee while scar tissue forms.  Eventually the leader line will break, and the scar tissue is solely responsible for providing knee joint stability. Read the rest of this entry »

The standard rehabilitation procedure for Tightrope repair is a bit different than TTA and TPLO, due to the less invasive nature of the procedure.  When dogs return home from Tightrope repair, owners are instructed to allow their dog to utilize the leg as they wish.  For some dogs this means they will start putting weight on it the next day, and for other dogs it could be 2-4 weeks before they feel comfortable bearing weight on the surgical leg.  Keeping your dog still while in the house, and keeping leashed walking to a minimum (bathroom breaks only) is critical during the first few weeks home no matter what procedure you choose, and exercise/movement restriction is advised for the first 8 post operative weeks.

At 4 weeks post op, most veterinarians will instruct owners to begin introducing their dog back to walks, particularly walking uphill in an attempt to rebuild loss muscle mass.  It is a good idea to start out by taking a few short walks every day, gradually working up to longer and less frequent walks.  This will prevent strain on the knee joint, which can hinder the healing process.  Post operative exercises need to be controlled, leashed walks, as any running, jumping, or roughhousing during the first 8 weeks can be detrimental to the stability of the knee and recovery process.

Upon his arrival home, your dog will need to take a number of medications for pain, inflammation, infection prevention, and possibly sedation.  If your buddy is not a willing pill taker, it is a good idea to try to get them into the habit of taking a small snack such as a piece of cheese, peanut butter, or a hot dog slice after their meals.  Each dog is different with regard to how long they need to be on a particular pain, inflammation, antibiotic, and sedation regimen, but usually the antibiotics are taken over 10 days, with the pain/inflammation/sedation used on an as needed basis.

As a general rule, just pay close attention to your dog and be sure to tailor their recovery to their particular needs.  There is no such thing as having a post operative dog rest too long, but there is always the risk of damage to the repair if your dog tries to do too much, too soon.  Tightrope CCL, like other traditional repair methods (lateral suture, extracapsular imbrication), is simply a way to stabilize the joint while scar tissue is being formed, it is not a replacement ligament.

The Tightrope CCL repair surgery is the newest surgical option available for dogs with cranial cruciate ligament injury.  Unlike in humans, canine CCL tears and damage generally takes place over a period of months or years, rather than being associated with a single traumatic event.  Because of the nature of these injuries, and their degenerative process over time, this new procedure focuses on a technique used in human ankle joints using bone to bone fixation in a minimally invasive way. Read the rest of this entry »

One way I found to save some cash when Tucker had his CCL repair was to order his medication and other pre and post surgery needs (like Kong toys, bully sticks, and pet bedding) online.  I purchased his collar, glucosamine and chondrointin supplements, pet pads, and special treats using PetCareRx.  My veterinarian even ok-ed his antibiotic orders through their site, easily saving us a couple hundred dollars!  Their web interface is really simple to use, and there was not a single product I needed that I could not find on their site.  I highly recommend using them if your dog is going into surgery or is recovering from surgery, their prices are absolutely unbeatable.  Plus, any order over $35 qualifies for free shipping - I have NEVER seen that on any of the other pet sites out there.

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Owners beware, obtaining health insurance for a dog with a known cranial cruciate injury is next to impossible, and most pet insurance companies will not pay for a CCL repair surgery if your dog has not been an incident-free, premium paying, member of their policy for at least one year.  Even dog owners with pet insurance often have a difficult time seeking reimbursement for the surgery, and this is something every pet insurance holding dog owner should be aware of. Read the rest of this entry »

Accidents happen, and this is certainly the case in post operative dogs.  Sometimes, despite our best efforts and watchful eye, dogs can remove their surgical staples.  Unless your dog has done this within a few days of returning home from surgery, or you notice pus, excessive bleeding, or a large, open wound where the staple is missing, your dog should be just fine.  If either case is true in your situation, contact your veterinarian for assistance. Read the rest of this entry »

More and more veterinarians are starting to recommend post operative physical therapy for cranial cruciate ligament repair patients.  While opinions differ from one veterinary surgeon to another, proponents of canine PT believe that physical therapy in the post-op CCL repair dog can help bring a dog back to full function in a shorter amount of time vs. traditional rest following surgery.  Veterinarians are presently conducting studies to show the efficacy of PT in animals, and to prove that it has a similar restorative mechanism as PT in humans.  Read the rest of this entry »

Many dogs can not tolerate the large, conical, Elizabethan Collars that most veterinary offices provide following canine surgery. If you are dealing with a dog that is able to get their e-collar off, refuses to lay down with the e collar on, is marking up the furniture with the collar, unable to eat, sleep, or rest with the collar in place, or is acting in an aggressive manner toward the ecollar, there are options available. Read the rest of this entry »