TPLOs
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) is an orthopedic surgeryconsidered to be the gold standard for correcting cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs. This is the equivalent of a person's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
You can contact us directly, or have your veterinarian submit a referral.
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy
Diagnosis & Consult
Hip and Stifle radiographs are taken to exclude other issues, as well as verify and take measurements for surgical planning. We go through the expected surgical and recovery process to ensure you are aware of what to expect before and after surgery.
Surgery
Surgery day is a full day in hospital. Patients receive a femoral regional nerve block, and also injectable pain medications and are monitored for several hours before being discharged at the end of the day.
Recovery and Rehab
Recovery is an important part of the process, and is expected to be 8-12 weeks with the first 2-4 weeks being the most intensive. Patients will require assistance walking, going to the bathroom, and with some post-op activities. We also offer individualized rehabilitation services as well to help improve return to function.
Other Cruciate Injury Treatments
While the TPLO is most often the treatment of choice, there are other procedures or management strategies that are available. This includes extracapsular surgical repairs in smaller dogs, custom orthotics/braces, and physical rehabilitation. We are happy to discuss the options in all of our patients to find the best solution.