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When TTA surgery is performed the front part of the tibia is cut and separated from the rest of the bone. Recovery from TTA appears to be quicker than recovery from TPLO in many dogs. Tibial Tuberosity Advancement surgery is similar to TPLO but may be slightly less invasive than TPLO. The stabilization plate does not need to be removed from your dog's leg unless it begins to cause problems.
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The long-term prognosis is good for TPLO treatment in dogs, and re-injury is uncommon. It is essential to follow your vet's instructions after your dog's TPLO surgery, and restrict your dog's activities in order to allow the bone to heal properly. The tibia will gradually heal and strengthen over the course of several months.įull recovery from TPLO surgery will take several months however some improvement can be seen within just days of surgery. The tibial plateau is then rotated to change its angle and a metal plate is added to stabilize the cut bone as it heals. In this procedure, a complete cut is made through the top of the tibia (tibial plateau). This surgery is more complex than the ELSS and aims to reduce the amount of forward movement during the dog's stride without the help of the ACL (CCL). Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy - TPLOĪnother surgical option for treating your dog's injured ACL is the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Long-term success varies in dogs of different sizes and activity levels. It can also be less expensive than other methods for repairing a torn ACL in dogs. This surgery is relatively quick and uncomplicated with a good success rate in smaller dogs. The suture will then begin to loosen or even break. The suture must stay intact for 8-12 weeks in order for the ACL injury to heal. The suture pulls the joint tight and helps to stabilize the knee, preventing the front-to-back sliding of the femur and tibia while the ACL heals and the muscles surrounding the knee strengthen. The forward thrust movement occurs because the top of the tibia is sloped, and the dog's injured ACL which is normally able to oppose the forward force, is no longer able to prevent this unwanted movement.Įxtracapsular Lateral Suture Stabilization corrects tibia thrust by “anchoring” the tibia to the femur with a surgically placed suture. Tibial thrust is caused by the transmission of weight up the tibia and across the knee, causing the tibia to “thrust” forward relative to the femur. This surgical treatment for a torn ACL in dogs works by counteracting 'tibial thrust' (the sliding forward of the dog's tibia) with a specifically placed suture. Surgical treatments for ACL injuries in dogs include: Extracapsular Lateral Suture Stabilization - ELSS / ECLS This movement is known as a 'positive drawer sign' results in knee instability which could cause damage to the cartilage and surrounding bones, or possibly lead to osteoarthritis. If your dog's ACL is torn or injured, the tibia (lower leg bone) slides forward in relation to the femur (thigh bone). If you suspect that your dog has an injured ACL it is important to see a vet and have the condition diagnosed and treated.
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If your dog has injured their ACL you will likely notice that they are limping in their hind legs, experiencing stiffness following exercise, and will likely have difficulties rising up off of the floor. There is not typically a defining moment when the ACL is injured, but you will notice through frequent exercise that the symptoms become more pronounced and painful for your dog, What are the signs that my dog has injured their ACL?ĭogs with an ACL injury aren't able to walk normally and experience pain. Injuries to a dog's ACL tend to happen gradually and become progressively worse with activity. Dogs also have this connective tissue joining their tibia and femur however, in dogs it's called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL).ĭespite the fact that the human ACL and a dog's CCL function differently, it's far easier for pet owners and vets to refer to a dog's cranial cruciate ligament as the dog's ACL, CCL, or 'cruciate' interchangeably. In the human knee, there is a thin piece of connective tissue called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which connects the lower leg bone (tibia) to the upper leg bone (femur) and helps the knee to function.