tightrope ACL surgery for 75lb dog? anyone have any luck?

[bluedapple]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;7851964]
Can you link to those studies?

As a few others have responded since your post, I saw the opposite working at a specialty ortho surgery and canine rehab facility: TPLO’s were weight-bearing more and faster than lateral suture.

The owner following the recovery plan also plays a big role in the outcome.

Here is a good description of options with images.
TPLO: Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy
TTA: Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)[/QUOTE]

you are a great reference since you see them after the surgery. You would think if they are weight bearing sooner w TPLO, then there would be less of an incidence to blow out the other leg. Are you seeing many failures with the lateral suture? Do the dogs with the lateral suture get as sound as the TPLO dogs?

[wendy]

Found this: http://www.infobarrel.com/TPLO_TTA_Tightrope_Fishline_What_Does_My_Dog_Need

[CrowneDragon]

[QUOTE=wendy;7861722]
Found this: http://www.infobarrel.com/TPLO_TTA_Tightrope_Fishline_What_Does_My_Dog_Need[/QUOTE]

I’m curious so I have to ask if you just wrote that. wbreuning=Wendy Breuning?
This is my attempt at CoTH sleuthing. :lol:

[Where_sMyWhite]

FWIW, I had TTA on my 4 year old Bouvier in one knee.

Lost her at age 11. Never had issues with the non-TTA knee and never had issues (observable anyway) with the TTA knee.

I’m a believer in TTA. Yes, you still deal with bone angle changes with TTA but IMO less invasive to the bone than TPLO.

My opinion and worth every penny paid for it

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=bluedapple;7852576]
you are a great reference since you see them after the surgery. You would think if they are weight bearing sooner w TPLO, then there would be less of an incidence to blow out the other leg. Are you seeing many failures with the lateral suture? Do the dogs with the lateral suture get as sound as the TPLO dogs?[/QUOTE]

I’m comparing TPLO to fishing line as those were the two most common choices. I don’t think the type of repair has much to do with the other leg blowing out. We warn all owners that it is common for the second knee to go within 12 - 18 months of the first.

I would say TPLO dogs were sounder than fishing line dogs. Dogs would begin weight-bearing sooner and realize it doesn’t hurt thus weight bear more. First, you have to convince the dog to test then use the leg. Rehab is really helpful here.

It was less common for small dog owners to choose TPLO. Small dogs easily get around on three legs. This becomes habit. It was harder for owners to be compliant with recovery instructions designed to force the dog to use that leg. It is harder to make a 10" tall dog four-beat walk than a 20" dog.

Like I said in my other post, owner compliance has a big impact on outcome. Those who followed instructions and went to rehab had dogs with even gait and muscle tone. Obviously, stress on the second, surgery-free knee is reduced if you can get the patient consistently using both knees evenly.

[bluedapple]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;7862412]
I’m comparing TPLO to fishing line as those were the two most common choices. I don’t think the type of repair has much to do with the other leg blowing out. We warn all owners that it is common for the second knee to go within 12 - 18 months of the first.

I would say TPLO dogs were sounder than fishing line dogs. Dogs would begin weight-bearing sooner and realize it doesn’t hurt thus weight bear more. First, you have to convince the dog to test then use the leg. Rehab is really helpful here.

It was less common for small dog owners to choose TPLO. Small dogs easily get around on three legs. This becomes habit. It was harder for owners to be compliant with recovery instructions designed to force the dog to use that leg. It is harder to make a 10" tall dog four-beat walk than a 20" dog.

Like I said in my other post, owner compliance has a big impact on outcome. Those who followed instructions and went to rehab had dogs with even gait and muscle tone. Obviously, stress on the second, surgery-free knee is reduced if you can get the patient consistently using both knees evenly.[/QUOTE]

thank you a million times Bicoastal:)
is fishing line and lateral suture the same?

[topshelf]

I know this is an old thread, but could some of you please post how much you paid for the tight rope procedure, where you had it done, and if the results are still to your liking? My boxer who is 1 year old has torn BOTH of his CCLs and we are struggling to find someplace that does not charge a fortune for the surgery. We simply can’t afford to pay $2500/knee, which is what we are being quoted.

[stargzng386]

I am making this decision right now for my small 20lb dog. I’ve been quoted 2700 for the fishing line surgery or 3500ish for TPLO. Thank god I have pet insurance which should pay out 2500 for the surgery. Can you get a vet to bundle and do both knees for a discounted rate? Can they do both at once? If they can then the costs outside just the surgery such as anesthesia should be less if it’s combined.

[khall]

We did it on our 95 lb ridgeback X years ago (lost him at 13 to spinal stenosis in March). He blew both within a year, first at 18 months second a year later. Less than $1000, I believe it was $700 per, local vet here. His healed beautifully and had no issues with his stifles for the rest of his life. He was not the most active of dogs usually though. Just a big lumbering goof that was more of a couch potato, not the squirrel chasing follow me around doing chores like our other dogs are.

[DogIsMyCopilot]

One of my dogs had TTAs on both her knees in 2013. In short, we have not had the experience and have not seen the results we were hoping for - despite several thousand $$, meticulous rehab, follow up x-rays every 6 months, and a second surgery two years later to remove one of the implants.

If I had to make the decision again, I would definitely do a lot more pre-surgery diagnostics, at least an MRI of the knee, and I would probably travel quite far for a surgeon I trust.