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TPLO is the state of the art treatment for ACL Rupture

  • All animals with complete, partial or chronic tears are surgical candidates.
  • TPLO yields the best results for virtually all dogs with ACL rupture, whether the patient is a Yorkie or Saint Bernard.
  • Arthroscopy is used in conjunction with TPLO surgery to confirm the diagnosis and debride abnormal tissues from the joint.
  • Our surgeons at Colorado Canine Orthopedics have performed over 6,000 TPLO and arthroscopic surgeries.
  • All animals receive a morphine epidural to ensure post-operative comfort.
  • Your pet can be discharged from the hospital the day of surgery.





How the Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) Works
 


#1 The bone just below the knee or stifle joint is the tibia and the bone above is the femur. The top of the tibia is the tibial plateau. All dogs have a sloping tibial plateau.
#2 During weight bearing, the femur slides down the tibial plateau. The (ACL) stops this downward slope, therefore, is under constant tension during weight bearing. It is this biomechanical problem that leads to most ACL ruptures and may cause older repair techniques to fail.



#3 The TPLO involves an osteotomy to reorient the tibial plateau to a near level platform. This provides a biomechanically stable joint. The new tibial plateau angle also reorients the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), enabling it to function as both the ACL and PCL.

#4 The osteotomy is held in place with a bone plate during healing (approximately three months). The bone plate does not usually require removal.








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How the
Tibial Plateau
Leveling Osteotomy
(TPLO) Works








FAQs About TPLO

Q: Does my pet have to spend the night in the hospital?
A: No. Virtually all dogs undergoing TPLO at Colorado Canine Orthopedics can be discharged the day of surgery.

Q: Will this technique have a negative affect on the opposite leg?
A: No. The TPLO provides the best possible outcome with no negative affect on the opposite leg.

Q: Will the opposite knee have the same problem?
A: Forty percent of all dogs with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture on one side will have the problem on the opposite side. The most effective ways to decrease this percentage are early surgical repair to allow for even weight distribution and weight loss in obese dogs.

Q: Is TPLO only for large dogs?
A: No. Many small and toy breed dogs have the greatest degree of tibial plateau slope. Small breed dogs typically have excellent outcomes following TPLO surgery.

Q: Is the postoperative period more difficult following TPLO than following older techniques?
A: In my opinion, it is not. Bone is an ideal tissue because it heals better than soft tissues and it can be stabilized very securely using a bone plate. In numerous situations, where an older technique had been performed on one side and a TPLO performed on the other side, clients have said the TPLO side healed quicker and with less discomfort.

Q: Can a TPLO be performed on an animal when an older technique has failed?
A: Yes. In numerous cases, TPLO has been successfully performed after older techniques (Flo , fishing line, fibular head transposition or gortex implants) have failed.

Q: Will my dog experience pain in the postoperative period?
A: Minimal. All dogs undergoing TPLO at Colorado Canine Orthopedics are given a morphine epidural. Most clients feel their pet's discomfort level is quite tolerable.

Q: How long does it take for healing?
A: The osteotomy takes 2-3 months to heal. During this time your pet can have a reasonable amount of leash activity.

Q: How many TPLOs have the doctors at Colorado Canine Orthopedics performed?
A: They have more than 50 years of combined experience performing surgeries. Combined they have performed over 11,000 knee surgeries, including over 6,000 arthroscopy and TPLO surgeries.

Q: How will I know how to care for my pet after surgery?
A: At Colorado Canine Orthopedics we prepare a detailed set of written discharge instructions for each patient. We carefully review this information with you prior to discharge.

Q: What should I expect when I get home the night of surgery?
A: Your pet will most likely be able to walk (but not well) when you get home. Most patients find their comfort zone once home and sleep the evening and night away. Your pet’s surgeon will call the night of surgery to check on your pet and answer any questions. You will also be given the doctors’ home phone number in case you have urgent questions or concerns in the evenings or on weekends.



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