Partially torn ACL-Traumeel injections? Traditional or TPLO surgery?

[SquishTheBunny]

Yesterday, we just did a TPLO on a SIXTEEN year old border collie.Today, Fly is fully weight bearing.

I have yet to see a TPLO done by a good surgeon result in a longer recovery than conservative management.

Id say 90% of our dogs that get TPLO’s (and we do on average 6-9 per week), are fully weight bearing by day 3, and back to restricted leash walks by day 5.

We never recommend crating (unless dog is used to it). We always recommend avoiding stairs and slippery floors.

I wouldnt be concerned on how your dog would handle it, its a much faster recovery than conservative treatment - same with a tightrope, TTA and lateral suture. However, finding a good surgeon is the most important part!

Here is a great summary: http://www.ovra.com/home/ovr/page_179/cranial_cruciate_injury_in_the_dog.html

Sounds like your dog would likely do just fine with a lateral suture as compared to a TPLO. I say this because you say he is calm, and is lean bodyweight.

I personally would opt for the surgery - the conservative treatment is going to keep him JUST as confined as post surgery, and the recovery with surgery should be much faster.

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=MsM;5863276]
Slightly different issue, since I had a young dog with luxating patellas, but similar surgical options.
With mine, I tried rest when his first stifle started to go out, but his other then went out and I knew we needed a fix. He ended up having the TPLO on one side and the suture surgery on the other (at the same time).
Based on my experience of one :winkgrin:, the TPLO was a pretty big deal. He was confined pretty strictly for six weeks and then leash-walked only for another month. He did need physical therapy to regain strength. I would try other options first with an older dog.
The suture sugery, OTOH was a fairly minor procedure. He was immediately weightbearing (Good thing considering the state of his other leg!). I have heard similar stories of this being a much easier recovery. This could easily be a good choice for your dog. I would be much less concerned about the surgery and recovery with this procedure.
Wishing you good healing![/QUOTE]

But was the TPLO for a cruciate, and suture for the patella, or did his patellas not get fixed and two cruciates were repaired?

Generally, patella stabilizations are pretty much an instant fix.

[wendy]

you do realize that Traumeel, being a homeopathic preparation, doesn’t actually contain any active ingredients? it’s as effective as giving injections of water.

The surgery for CCL tears isn’t bad at all- most dogs suffer more pain pre-surgery, and as the owner your biggest problem post- surgery is keeping them from acting up too much during the recovery process.

[gloriginger]

I went through this a few years ago with my Aussie/ACD mix. She tore her acl slightly on the beach about 1 month before I lost my job. I decided to see if she would get better, after about a year I decided to do the surgery. She was 5 at the time, super active and there was no way around it. I opted to do the traditional surgery lateral suture - over the TPLO- because of cost. I went round and round with the two, but I talked with a lot of people (we competed in agility at the time) and I ultimately decided that was the better option. What it really came down to for me was that if I did the TPLO and things went wrong, I had no other option - but with the lateral suture I would at least have the option later to do the TPLO. I do know that I concidered the option of doing nothing and letting arthritis stabilize the joint.

She is 100% better, strong, runs and jumps. Every now and then I will see her ever so sligthly on her toes, but for the most part she is fine. I did retire her from agility, but that has more to do with personal life changes than with her ability, although I do worry about her getting hurt- she was at the level that she would have had to perform a great deal of tight turns, and quick manuvers to stay competitive, and having her live a long life was worth more to me than the next level title.

I will say that I researched a lot of surgeons, before I decided on one, shop around on price too- and the recovery was very very important. My vet was super conservative with what my dog was allowed to do, versus my aunt who’s dog had surgery a month later, and ended up in a year of therapy because she pushed it too soon.

[LMH]

@wendy;5863840

The surgery for CCL tears isn’t bad at all- most dogs suffer more pain pre-surgery,

Without sounding aggressive, as I am not intending to be-how do you have this information? In other words do you have a veterinary background?

I only ask because I am not finding this to be true at all…yes there are good success stories, but there are just as many really disturbing stories about lots of pain, difficult recoveries, etc.

This is what makes these decisions so frustrating

[SquishTheBunny]

In all honesty, with torn CCL’s (ACL is a human term) in dogs - the vast majorty recover better and faster with surgery than conservative management. That doesnt mean conservative management wont help heal. However, if your dog is limping, or not applying full weight than its obvious s/he is in pain. Level of pain is usually not excruciating, but its painful. I dont know where you are getting you info from about failing TPLO’s. The failure rate is very very minimal (as in maybe 0.5%). Also, remember, you get what you pay for. Boarded surgeons are going to cost more - however TPLO’s to them are like vaccines to a regular vet. One of our surgeons has easily done over 1000.

Obviously, human error can cause failures (but they are going to cause failure in conservative treatment too) if you let your dog rip around like an idiot. however, from what you are saying about your dog (quiet), there should be no reason for this. I would think within 2 weeks she would be back to full weight bearing and a significantly less chance of developing further arthritis. Also, no chance in re-injuring the cruciate.

[irkenequine]

Without sounding aggressive, as I am not intending to be-how do you have this information? In other words do you have a veterinary background?

I only ask because I am not finding this to be true at all…yes there are good success stories, but there are just as many really disturbing stories about lots of pain, difficult recoveries, etc.

I’ll just jump in and say I work for a referral orthopedic surgery clinic that does 2-3 TPLOS/lateral sutures/MLPs pick your card, a day. And just in my experience pre-and post-operatively, 90% of dogs leave at least light weight bearing if not full weight bearing. I do not have ANY scientific or medical science to back me up…just a general observation on the job. They tend to come in MUCH, MUCH more painful than they leave. All dogs here get light range of motion and ice q6 starting IMMEDIATELY after surgery…and almost all of the dogs that wouldn’t let you TOUCH that leg before surgery will give you range of motion immediately afterwards. Definitely seems to be one of those instant gratification surgeries compared to like, a hemilaminectomy.

But I am one person, working for one clinic, which is designed to do JUST these surgeries with board-certified orthopedic surgeons. So I think if you moved from clinic to clinic, you could be getting a different story entirely.

[LMH]

Thanks irken…that was exactly the kind of answer I was looking for.

I had a LONG talk with a tech at a highly respected ortho clinic in my area…probably similar to the type of clinic in which you work.

Anyway, we have an appointment on Tuesday to discuss his condition, options, etc

[lightlee]

Can a TPLO or TTA procedure be done on a dog that has developed arthritis in the knee/stifle?