What Are the Treatments for a Dog With a Torn Ligament?

Ligaments are bands of a tough, fibrous material designed to keep bones in the correct position. The most common ligament injury in dogs is the cranial cruciate ligament. This ligament is situated in the hind legs at the knee joint, and is used to provide stability when the knee joint bends. If this ligament is damaged and left untreated, the dog suffers considerable pain, inflammation, reduced mobility and sometimes unable to weight bear on the affected limb. Eventually a cruciate ligament injury can lead to arthritis in the knee joint. There are several different surgical options for treating a cruciate ligament injury, as well as a carefully designed regime to bring an animal back to health without surgery, but any treatment decisions should be made only on the advice of a reputable veterinarian.

  1. Non-Surgical Treatment

    • If the injury is not a tear or a rupture of the ligament, and the animal weighs under 15 pounds, non-surgical treatment may be administered at the advice of a veterinarian. Non-surgical treatment involves limiting exercise, appropriate physical therapy, a gradual return to activity and anti-inflammatory medication. If the injured animal is obese or overweight, a controlled diet may be recommended, as overweight animals are more likely to suffer cruciate ligament injuries, and also take longer to heal than animals at the recommended weight.

    Intracapsular Ligament Replacement

    • Intracapsular ligament replacement is a surgical procedure designed to replace the damaged ligament. Replacement tissue may be taken from another part of the body, such as the patella ligament. A synthetic graft can be used to replace the damaged ligament, or ligament tissue can be sourced from a tissue bank. The replacement tissue is used to recreate the injured ligament and position it in an anatomically appropriate manner so that when rehabilitation and healing is complete, the knee join will be as fully functional as possible without causing the dog any discomfort.

    Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy

    • Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) is a surgical technique requiring specialized training and licensing. Instead of repairing or replacing the damaged ligament, TPLO aims to change the anatomy of the knee joint so that the ligament is not required. A precise cut is made in the tibia to eliminate the opposing forces that require the cruciate ligament to stabilize them. A bone plate is applied to the cut area which provides stabilization. By changing the anatomy of the knee, the joint is stabilized without the use of the cranial cruciate ligament. This procedure is generally only recommended for dogs weighing over 40 pounds.