Not all owners can afford the expensive surgery that cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair surgery typically requires. There is quite a range in prices depending on what procedure is recommended by your veterinarian for your dog’s knee repair. For example, a traditional repair can cost anywhere from $700-$1500, whereas a TPLO is usually in the $1700-$3000 range. If proceeding with surgical correction for your dog is just not an option, be aware that there are conservative management techniques that will assist your dog in recovering from cranial cruciate ligament damage. Read the rest of this entry »
May 31, 2008 | | Financing, Surgical Procedures, Conservative Management, Surgical Options
When there is a joint injury like a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, it is important for the vet to try to preserve the menisci to the greatest extent possible. Loss of all or part of a stifle’s meniscus has the potential to accelerate the breakdown of articular cartilage with resultant DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease). The more of the meniscus that is lost through injury or through surgical removal, the less stable the joint will be in future, and the greater the potential for DJD, i.e. arthritis. The risk of further damage to the menisci is minimized by greatly reducing activity after ligament injury while the dog’s body re-establishes stability in the joint. Read the rest of this entry »
May 30, 2008 | | Meniscus, Surgical Procedures
It is common for dogs with cranial cruciate ligament damage to also have injury to the mensicus. Simply put, the meniscus is a secondary structure in the knee that helps to provide lubrication for the joint, while also functioning in shock absorption and weight bearing. The menisci (plural for meniscus) are pads between the bones of the joint that function in stability, load sharing, transmission of force, and shock absorption, in addition to joint lubrication. It is important to understand that after a ligament injury the menisci are vulnerable to further damage because of the instability of the stifle. Maintaining proper restriction during recovery by avoiding all stressful actions like running & jumping will minimize the risk of further meniscal injury, as well as provide the best conditions for the re-stabilization of the stifle and healing of any meniscal injuries that occured at the time of the original ligament damage. Read the rest of this entry »
May 30, 2008 | | Meniscus, Anatomy
If you and your veterinarian have decided to take surgical approach (TTA, TPLO, traditional/extracapsular/lateral suture repair) to correcting your dog’s cranial cruciate ligament rupture, you will want to be prepared for what to do prior to your dog’s knee surgery. The following checklist will provide a general idea of talking points to discuss with your canine’s vet prior to the ccl repair procedure. If you are aware of many of these policies and procedures before the surgery day, it will help to ease your worries about the surgery and ultimately make your dog’s recovery more relaxed. Read the rest of this entry »
May 08, 2008 | | Prior to Surgery, Checklist, Complications, Recovery
TPLO, or tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, and TTA, or tibial tuberosity advancement, are two very new and biomechanically similar surgical techniques. Both the TPLO and TTA create stability within the dog stifle by altering the angle of the knee and using implants to hold the knee in place while the joint heals in its new position. The TTA procedure is actually a modified version of the TPLO procedure, using the removal of bone of the tibia to allow the restructuring of the stifle’s angle, which is subsequently held in place by metal implants. Read the rest of this entry »
May 01, 2008 | | TPLO vs. TTA, Surgical Procedures, Tibial Tuberosity Advancement or TTA, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy or TPLO, Surgical Options
One of the benefits of the newest of the cranial cruciate repair surgeries, the TTA, is the length of time required before your dog can return to exercise and a life without restrictions. Because the ostoeotomy (cutting of the bone) in the tibial tuberosity advancement procedure is done in a non weight bearing area of the knee, dogs are able to return to normal activities more quickly than they would be able to after undergoing a TPLO or the traditional (extracapsular imbrication) surgery. Most TTA patients begin weight bearing during walking within the first 24 to 48 hours after completion of the surgical procedure. Read the rest of this entry »
May 01, 2008 | | Recovery, Surgical Procedures, Tibial Tuberosity Advancement or TTA, Surgical Options
For both humans and animals alike, any surgical procedure carries a risk of complications. You dog should have a full evaluation done, complete with blood work and other baseline testing, prior to surgery to help minimize any risks. Pre-surgical testing can often diminish the risk of death from anesthesia and other preventable complications related to your canine’s health. Overall, complications with cruciate surgery occur in approximately 5 to 10% of patients. Complications can range from mild and easily resolved, to more severe complications requiring additional surgery, expense and disability. While uncommon, complications do arise during and after tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) repair procedures, and you should have a discussion with your veterinarian regarding ways to minimize and avoid these risks. Read the rest of this entry »
May 01, 2008 | | Complications, Recovery, Surgical Procedures, Tibial Tuberosity Advancement or TTA
TTA is the abbreviation for tibial tuberosity advancement, which is a relatively new procedure in the field of cranial cruciate ligament repair of the canine stifle. The TTA technique was developed in 2002 at the University of Zurich, and, biomechanically speaking, the procedure is very similar to the TPLO, without carrying many of the risks. In fact, the TTA is a simpler procedure for veterinary surgeons to perform than the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, or TPLO, and works to correct the injured stifle without over correcting the angle - as TPLO often does. Read the rest of this entry »
May 01, 2008 | | Surgical Procedures, Tibial Tuberosity Advancement or TTA, Surgical Options
Not all owners can afford the expensive surgery that cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair surgery typically requires. There is quite a range in prices depending on what procedure is recommended by your veterinarian for your dog’s knee repair. For example, a traditional repair can cost anywhere from $700-$1500, whereas a TPLO is usually in the $1700-$3000 range. If proceeding with surgical correction for your dog is just not an option, be aware that there are conservative management techniques that will assist your dog in recovering from cranial cruciate ligament damage. Read the rest of this entry »
