Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy
(TPLO)
For the Treatment of:
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease
3kg Dog vs 80kg Dog
What is Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease?
Cruciate disease is the most common cause of hindlimb lameness in the dog. It is most commonly a degenerative condition, in which the joint is inflamed and the cruciate ligament deteriorates over time, causing instability in the joint that leads to injury of the menisci (cartilage shock absorbers) and cartilage wear. The resultant lameness is primarily caused by the instability of the stifle joint (knee); however, pain due to inflammation and osteoarthritis may contribute. In some cases, mild lameness can acutely worsen due to acute complete tearing of a remaining portion of the ligament or medial meniscus. Due to the nature of CCL disease, approximately 30-50% of dogs with disease in one leg will develop disease in the other leg in the future.
Treatment of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease:
Medical management, including weight loss/management, rest/exercise moderation, anti-inflammatories, joint-protecting injections and joint supplements, may help with patient comfort, however, generally surgical correction is recommended to restore function.
There are several surgical treatment options, however, Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) often forms the cornerstone of treatment for cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs.
​
Dogs vary greatly in shape and size. TPLO can be used in dogs of all kinds following a thorough assessment to determine the ideal treatment option and surgical technique.
​​What is a TPLO?
TPLO surgery for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease involves opening and inspecting the joint, including the menisci (fibrocartilage shock absorbers), which are also commonly injured. If injury to the menisci is detected, it is generally resected as it has a poor healing capacity and may act as a source of ongoing pain if untreated.
​
To correct instability in the knee, a semi-circular cut is made in the shin bone, and the joint surface is levelled. The bone is fixed in its new position using a bone plate and screws.
​​
Prognosis:
The likelihood of return to good function following TPLO is very high in most dogs, however, due to the nature of the disease, osteoarthritis may progress over time and require management.
​
In general, after surgery, most dogs will:
-
Place their toes to the ground within a few days.
-
Walk with good balance within a couple of weeks.
-
Progressively improve until peak recovery is achieved between 3-6 months.