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 »
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 »
Whether your dog has undergone a TTA, TPLO, or traditional extracapsular imbrication repair, the steps following surgery are generally the same. Whether your dog stays the night at the vet’s after surgery, or head home with you the day of the procedure, the first few days following the CCL repair should be dedicated to making your dog feel as comfortable as possible. Be aware that your dog may have lost his appetite as a result of the surgery, so have stocks, rice, chicken, pumpkin and other whole foods readily available if he refuses his regular dog food. It is advisable to give oral pain medications to your dog with some food in their stomach, so it is really important that you can get something into their stomach, even if it is only a bit of stock or piece of beef - something is better than nothing. Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
In the extracapsular imbrication, also known as the traditional method and lateral fabellar surgery, your dog will have a strong leader line placed within the knee to provide stabilization. Some veterinarians will only perform this procedure on small dogs and cats, while others will use the technique on dogs of all sizes. There is no definitive study evidence showing that tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, or TPLO, is superior to the extracapsular method in large dogs, in fact, the University of Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s leading veterinary hospitals, will not perform the TPLO procedure as the cost/risk risks do not outweigh the benefits. For more information see the article here - Penn Veterinary MedicineRead the rest of this entry »
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 »
Whether your dog has undergone a TTA, TPLO, or traditional extracapsular imbrication repair, the steps following surgery are generally the same. Whether your dog stays the night at the vet’s after surgery, or head home with you the day of the procedure, the first few days following the CCL repair should be dedicated to making your dog feel as comfortable as possible. Be aware that your dog may have lost his appetite as a result of the surgery, so have stocks, rice, chicken, pumpkin and other whole foods readily available if he refuses his regular dog food. It is advisable to give oral pain medications to your dog with some food in their stomach, so it is really important that you can get something into their stomach, even if it is only a bit of stock or piece of beef - something is better than nothing. 
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. 
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. 
