The most common reason for a dog to need Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy surgery is because of repeated injury to the anterior cruciate ligament---or ACL. A ruptured ACL can occur in any dog no matter what age, breed or gender. Understanding the signs of a ruptured ACL as well as the surgical procedure and aftercare can enable any dog owner to provide ideal support for his dog during a stressful time.
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Symptoms of a Knee Injury
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The most common sign of an injury to the knee is an abrupt lameness of the affected legs. Dogs will often carry the affected leg up and off the ground. Some dogs may show signs of swelling, particularly around the knee itself. In some cases, dogs may opt to continue to use the injured leg---causing repeated injury to the joint. Last, some dogs may even show signs of pain (such as yelping,) during regular activity or even when the leg is touched. If your dog shows any signs of a knee injury, even if the injury seems to dissipate, he should be examined by a veterinarian.
Anatomy of the Knee
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The knee is also known as the stifle joint and contains three bones. The femur is the bone that connects the knee joint to the hip joint. At the knee joint, the patella (more commonly known as the kneecap) connects the femur and the tibia. The tibia extends down from the kneecap to the ankle. All three of these bones are joined together by several ligaments and muscles.
There are two ligaments in particular that form a crisscross in the knee joint. On the front is the anterior cruciate ligament while the posterior cruciate ligament crosses over the back. These two ligaments are important for preventing the bones from causing damage to the bones and the knee joint.
TPLO Surgery
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TPLO surgery is one of the more complicated surgeries performed by a veterinarian. Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy starts by removing the damaged ends of the ligaments. Next, a curved cut is made out of the top of the tibia, then the tibial plateau is rotated, which allows the slope to be leveled out. A custom-fitted plate is then screwed into place to allow the bone to heal in the new position.
Surgery Complications
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With any surgery, there are always possible complications that can arise. Some dogs may have issues with the healing process, particularly if the dog is allowed to be excessively active. Therefore, it's important for all post-surgery aftercare to be strictly followed. In rare cases, some dogs can die from the anesthesia or infection. Infection is especially rare because all surgical equipment should be sterile.
Aftercare
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Swelling may be present during the first few days following surgery, so a cold compress may be recommended to help ease the swelling. During the first eight weeks following TPLO surgery, your dog will be under strict restrictions regarding exercise. If at any point your dog is alone during the first weeks, it is important he is crated or placed in an area where there is no furniture for jumping. Jumping should be prohibited until the veterinarian indicates otherwise.
After the initial healing phase, your dog will need physical therapy in order to regain muscle mass. Physical therapy must be done slowly over a period of several weeks to prevent any additional injuries from occurring. After several weeks of rehabilitation, your veterinarian should examine your dog to determine if additional activity (such as running or jumping) can be permitted.
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