TPLO

TPLO is done to repiar rupture of the antrior cruciate, in the knee or stifle joint. Short for Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, TPLO is a surgical procedure which involves changing the angle of the bearing surface of the top of the tibia, (shin bone) to make it more level. This prevents tension on the cruciate ligament and allows a ruptured ligament, especially in a large dog breed, to heal well, with the best prospects for a fit life afterwards. The surgery involves cutting through the tibia using a specialised curved saw on a jig, then rotating this part to a predetermined level to give us the correct angle to the joint surface. The separated parts are then reattached using a unique bone plate.

Cruciate rupture happens mostly when a dog is running fast and a foot can go into a depression when the dog´s momentum causes the ligament rupture. The dog will yelp and come back 100% lame on the leg concerned.Some giant breeds are prone to spontaneous rupture of this knee ligament and when this happens, frequently the other knee does the same soon after the first one.

Partial ruptures can occur. Some of these heal well, but slowly, with restricted exercise and anti-inflamatory drugs during the healing process, but some of these "give way" due to the tension from trhe sloping tibial surface and end up complete ruptures after one or two weeks. This then needs surgical intervention to correct. Smaller dogs can have a cruciate rupture repaired using a wire or nylon implant to take the strain formerly taken by the ligament and so creating joint stability. TPLO is the surgical method of choice for large breeds and the Slocum Method is thought to be the method of choice. Only Vets who have training at the Slocum Foundation in America can buy the equipment necessary for this surgery. One of pur partners, Stuart Ashworth is qualified to perform this surgery.