Comments on: TPLO vs. TTA for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/ Canine Cruciate Liagment - CCL Knee Injuries in Dogs Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:57:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Devan http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-10259 Devan Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:57:46 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-10259 My 4yr old American Stafford shire just tore her cranial cruciate ligament in her back knee. Her back barely comes up to my knees and the vet weighed about 75lbs yesterday and said shes made of pure solid muscle, well was until the other day. She loves to run through our horse pastures and wrestles rough with my dad and their Bull Mastiff Rotti. Not too sure what would be the best choice for her. I don't want to ruin her friendly spirit and free will but I also can stand to see her suffer from this again. She loves going on multiple day long hikes and is VERY athletic. Does anyone have any advise for me? The DR were using we have been with for over 20yrs with all of my parents Champion German Shepherd show dogs so we find him to be extremely reliable and helpful. He recommended 3 surgeon specialists and said the surgery he recommends starts around $3,500 and "goes up from there". Its either TPLO or TTA, he said those would be best for a dog with her muscle mass, size, and age. I don't want to go the cheap route but I don't want the most expensive one either, I need to do what would be the best for her life style to be least disturbed in the long run. I just worry after any operation, she may have to slow down a bit more then she or I will like and she will get really depressed. For anyone that has had the operation with an athletic, active dog, what differences and changes took place and how was your dog affected in the long run? My 4yr old American Stafford shire just tore her cranial cruciate ligament in her back knee. Her back barely comes up to my knees and the vet weighed about 75lbs yesterday and said shes made of pure solid muscle, well was until the other day. She loves to run through our horse pastures and wrestles rough with my dad and their Bull Mastiff Rotti. Not too sure what would be the best choice for her. I don’t want to ruin her friendly spirit and free will but I also can stand to see her suffer from this again. She loves going on multiple day long hikes and is VERY athletic. Does anyone have any advise for me? The DR were using we have been with for over 20yrs with all of my parents Champion German Shepherd show dogs so we find him to be extremely reliable and helpful. He recommended 3 surgeon specialists and said the surgery he recommends starts around $3,500 and “goes up from there”. Its either TPLO or TTA, he said those would be best for a dog with her muscle mass, size, and age. I don’t want to go the cheap route but I don’t want the most expensive one either, I need to do what would be the best for her life style to be least disturbed in the long run. I just worry after any operation, she may have to slow down a bit more then she or I will like and she will get really depressed.

For anyone that has had the operation with an athletic, active dog, what differences and changes took place and how was your dog affected in the long run?

]]> By: Cruciate operation diary - Page 4 - Pet Forums Community http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-9997 Cruciate operation diary - Page 4 - Pet Forums Community Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:48:57 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-9997 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: Ripley's home - Pet Forums Community http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-9995 Ripley's home - Pet Forums Community Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:44:18 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-9995 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: Nancy Fox http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-8412 Nancy Fox Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:59:58 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-8412 My just 3 yr. old Rhodesian Ridgeback had TTA surgery this afternoon. The surgeon would not advocate one operation over the other but said she was a perfect candidate for the TTA. I am retired, have little money but the success rate is higher then that of either the MRIT or the TPLO. I will keep you posted. You can email me with suggestions for recovery or questions. NAncy For older dogs the lateral or MRIT surgery is suggested, but if the boone angle is good the TTA surgery is suggested. My just 3 yr. old Rhodesian Ridgeback had TTA surgery this afternoon. The surgeon would not advocate one operation over the other but said she was a perfect candidate for the TTA. I am retired, have little money but the success rate is higher then that of either the MRIT or the TPLO. I will keep you posted. You can email me with suggestions for recovery or questions.
NAncy
For older dogs the lateral or MRIT surgery is suggested, but if the boone angle is good the TTA surgery is suggested.

]]> By: faye brosch http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-7844 faye brosch Mon, 31 May 2010 16:01:54 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-7844 I have a 19 mo. old pit/lab who is 60 lbs. His left front leg was amputated at 3 mo. Found him with the foot cut off above the first knuckle at 6 weeks. Now he has blown out his back acl , so is on two legs, but uses the left for some balance. He is very active and the vet said he could blow out the operation before it heals. I just don't know what to do. He has been through so much in his short life. He is not leashed trained and the vet said I would have to take him out to go to the bathroom on a leash and at least a month to heal. He was jumping off the ground the other day and I just don't know if he will heal. With only 3 legs I'm just considering leaving it alone. Anybody know what I should do??? I have a 19 mo. old pit/lab who is 60 lbs. His left front leg was amputated at 3 mo. Found him with the foot cut off above the first knuckle at 6 weeks.
Now he has blown out his back acl , so is on two legs, but uses the left for some balance.
He is very active and the vet said he could blow out the operation before it heals. I just don’t know what to do. He has been through so much in his short life.
He is not leashed trained and the vet said I would have to take him out to go to the bathroom on a leash and at least a month to heal. He was jumping off the ground the other day and I just don’t know if he will heal.
With only 3 legs I’m just considering leaving it alone.
Anybody know what I should do???

]]> By: Tom http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-7504 Tom Tue, 18 May 2010 01:55:12 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-7504 I am too trying to decide what to do, but one of the vets I've visited has given me another option, it's the old fashioned "suture technique" which he claims would be fine and less recovery time and costs on a dog that won't be as active. My beagle is going to be 11 in July and is only 32 lbs and has a partial tear on his back left knee. He hobbles around fine but the back leg he won't put pressure on it very much at all. I just don't want him to be in any pain or discomfort, so I'm opting for surgery. The other reason is the pain pills (rimadyl) are supposedly not good for long term use (liver damage). The TTA sure seems like the way to go, the one vet didn't even mention this one to me. I'd love to hear from any people out there on what their results have been of TTA or even this "suture" technique. Thanks! zgca@yahoo.com I am too trying to decide what to do, but one of the vets I’ve visited has given me another option, it’s the old fashioned “suture technique” which he claims would be fine and less recovery time and costs on a dog that won’t be as active. My beagle is going to be 11 in July and is only 32 lbs and has a partial tear on his back left knee. He hobbles around fine but the back leg he won’t put pressure on it very much at all.

I just don’t want him to be in any pain or discomfort, so I’m opting for surgery. The other reason is the pain pills (rimadyl) are supposedly not good for long term use (liver damage).

The TTA sure seems like the way to go, the one vet didn’t even mention this one to me.

I’d love to hear from any people out there on what their results have been of TTA or even this “suture” technique.

Thanks!

zgca@yahoo.com

]]> By: cindy http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-7500 cindy Mon, 17 May 2010 23:25:13 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-7500 Hi, I have a mix breed dog Blaze he is 2. I was just told he needs to have tplo surgery in both back legs. I know what everyone is going through and I hope for the best for all of you. I know the surgery is expensive but hes a part of my family and he has a long life left with us and I want him to be without pain. I hope i m doing the right thing by getting the surgery. Hi, I have a mix breed dog Blaze he is 2. I was just told he needs to have tplo surgery in both back legs. I know what everyone is going through and I hope for the best for all of you. I know the surgery is expensive but hes a part of my family and he has a long life left with us and I want him to be without pain. I hope i m doing the right thing by getting the surgery.

]]> By: Wendy http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-5599 Wendy Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:42:57 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-5599 Kendra had bilateral TTA this past Friday. It turns out that both knees had near complete tears. There was no meniscus damage, thankfully. We visited Saturday evening and as we sat in the waiting room, we saw her being gurneyed outside. We watched through the windows as they unloaded her and two people sling walked her. I more appeared that she was walking them. I couldn't believe my eyes. She could actually walk better than prior surgery, this, one day after surgery. Wow. Kendra's biggest challenge is ahead of her, that and she isn't eating much. I am cooking her food and trying different things she may like for now. On Monday, we went to drop off more cooked food and they said she was good enough to take home. 3 Days after both legs had TTA?! We were a bit shocked, but after the 3 hour one way trips...we were taking her with us. As she still has pain in the one front leg from arthritis, it takes two to walk her. I am applying heat to the edema 3x per day and meds 2x per day. I am massaging her muscles a couple of times per day also. I am going to look into something for the front leg...she needs to be able to help herself more with that leg for now, eventually, she will be able to rely more on her hind legs. She will be walked 5-10 min per day, for 2 or 3x per day for a few weeks, then we are strongly considering taking her for the 10 day physical therapy plan at Cornell. Our surgical cost for both legs, was the price of one TPLO. From what I have seen thus far, I have made the right choice. One wound is ready for the bandage to come off already. More to follow, the work begins. Kendra had bilateral TTA this past Friday. It turns out that both knees had near complete tears. There was no meniscus damage, thankfully. We visited Saturday evening and as we sat in the waiting room, we saw her being gurneyed outside. We watched through the windows as they unloaded her and two people sling walked her. I more appeared that she was walking them. I couldn’t believe my eyes. She could actually walk better than prior surgery, this, one day after surgery. Wow. Kendra’s biggest challenge is ahead of her, that and she isn’t eating much. I am cooking her food and trying different things she may like for now. On Monday, we went to drop off more cooked food and they said she was good enough to take home. 3 Days after both legs had TTA?! We were a bit shocked, but after the 3 hour one way trips…we were taking her with us. As she still has pain in the one front leg from arthritis, it takes two to walk her. I am applying heat to the edema 3x per day and meds 2x per day. I am massaging her muscles a couple of times per day also. I am going to look into something for the front leg…she needs to be able to help herself more with that leg for now, eventually, she will be able to rely more on her hind legs. She will be walked 5-10 min per day, for 2 or 3x per day for a few weeks, then we are strongly considering taking her for the 10 day physical therapy plan at Cornell. Our surgical cost for both legs, was the price of one TPLO. From what I have seen thus far, I have made the right choice. One wound is ready for the bandage to come off already. More to follow, the work begins.

]]> By: Karrie http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-5564 Karrie Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:27:48 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-5564 Dr Robinson is located in Syracuse NY 315-446-7933 Best of luck to you! Dr Robinson is located in Syracuse NY 315-446-7933
Best of luck to you!

]]> By: Wendy http://dogkneeinjury.com/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/comment-page-2/#comment-5524 Wendy Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:02:51 +0000 http://dogkneeinjury.com/2008/tplo-vs-tta-for-cranial-cruciate-ligament-repair/#comment-5524 I posted a comment a couple of days ago on my girl Kendra. She injured her front leg and the day before going to the specialists, tore both hind ligaments. She is a 3yr old, 170 lb., very active Mastiff. One Specialist recommended TPLO; one leg at a time. We went to Cornell University yesterday for a second opinion. I would do the same for myself, so I felt she deserved it also. We have had great success with highly specialized issues in the past. They perform all four procedures, hence, we felt they would be objective on the best solution for her. They have recommended, because she has bilateral tears...and a bad front leg, that we do bileateral TTA. They have recently done 5 or 6 bilateral TTA's and the dogs were able to walk out the door in 4-5 days. She will then stay there for 4-5 days post op. The cost is around $5000 for both. This ends up cheaper than TPLO....we had quotes of $7000 to $8000 for both legs and we would only be able to do one leg at a time, doubling the recovery period. It takes two of us to hold her up and walk her and this is incredibly difficult at her weight. I worry that she will sustain further injury by waiting with conservative management in the dead of winter. Her surgery was supposed to be today, but she has been bumped to tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we called a 3rd Vet, Dr. Rene van Ee (Kenmore, NY...near Buffalo). He has been doing extracapsulation (fishing wire style) surgery for years. He comes highly recommended. He performed this surgery on our friends 195 lb. Mastiff about ten years ago. He had a second surgery done a few years later. This Mastiff lived to 13 1/2 yrs of age. Our friends took extra precautions with lead walking for 6 months. I would have strongly considered Dr van Ee, and this type of surgery, except he wasn't available for two more weeks and Kendra really can't wait. Their Mastiff, due to his weight, had to put some weight on the leg post op and he still fully recovered. This procedure may have been more difficult for Kendra as she is having trouble putting weight on 3 legs. We are also looking into the option of having her stay a few extra days for a longer period of rehab. I will update I posted a comment a couple of days ago on my girl Kendra. She injured her front leg and the day before going to the specialists, tore both hind ligaments. She is a 3yr old, 170 lb., very active Mastiff. One Specialist recommended TPLO; one leg at a time. We went to Cornell University yesterday for a second opinion. I would do the same for myself, so I felt she deserved it also. We have had great success with highly specialized issues in the past. They perform all four procedures, hence, we felt they would be objective on the best solution for her. They have recommended, because she has bilateral tears…and a bad front leg, that we do bileateral TTA. They have recently done 5 or 6 bilateral TTA’s and the dogs were able to walk out the door in 4-5 days. She will then stay there for 4-5 days post op. The cost is around $5000 for both. This ends up cheaper than TPLO….we had quotes of $7000 to $8000 for both legs and we would only be able to do one leg at a time, doubling the recovery period. It takes two of us to hold her up and walk her and this is incredibly difficult at her weight. I worry that she will sustain further injury by waiting with conservative management in the dead of winter. Her surgery was supposed to be today, but she has been bumped to tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we called a 3rd Vet, Dr. Rene van Ee (Kenmore, NY…near Buffalo). He has been doing extracapsulation (fishing wire style) surgery for years. He comes highly recommended. He performed this surgery on our friends 195 lb. Mastiff about ten years ago. He had a second surgery done a few years later. This Mastiff lived to 13 1/2 yrs of age. Our friends took extra precautions with lead walking for 6 months. I would have strongly considered Dr van Ee, and this type of surgery, except he wasn’t available for two more weeks and Kendra really can’t wait. Their Mastiff, due to his weight, had to put some weight on the leg post op and he still fully recovered. This procedure may have been more difficult for Kendra as she is having trouble putting weight on 3 legs. We are also looking into the option of having her stay a few extra days for a longer period of rehab. I will update

]]>