starbuck Posted October 15, 2006 Report Share Posted October 15, 2006 Luke has a ACL tear.The orthopedic surgeon has recommended that he has a TPLO procedure to correct it. I have full confidence that he is highly skilled and likely to do a terrific job with this procedure (he performed surgery to correct Starbuck's OCD earlier this year). However, it is a very aggressive procedure (and very expensive). While I think it's unlikely that anything would go wrong, there are some horrific things than can happen with this procedure. The older surgery for this condition is less dangerous but less likely to give good results. Online I have found some reports that conservative theraphy (2-3 months with no jumping, running) has results at least as good as the older surgery. I don't know what to do. I have some time as this is a fairly recent injury. Luke's only 5-I don't want him to be crippled. However, I would have a hard time living with a decision that left him in worse shape or cost him his life. I am thinking about continuing resting him for awhile and maybe not doing the surgery. Has anyone had luck with a conservative apporach to treatment of this sort of injury? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Watch Debatable Posted October 15, 2006 Report Share Posted October 15, 2006 There are tons of posts about ACL injuries/surgical options/post-op care at the Orthodogs site. A search should pull up all kinds of info. I first read on Orthodogs that "there is a small percentage of risk of a dog developing implant-associated sarcoma in any surgery that involves a metal implant," and a quick PubMed search seemed to indicate that this may be the case. Yet another factor to consider I know two border collies that had TPLOs: one that went on to work sheep for years as if nothing had ever happened, and another that in spite of excellent post-op care is nowhere near normal function. (At 12+, though, she's otherwise healthy and is content to lounge on the sofa and enjoy short walks around the neighborhood. She had the surgery four or five years ago.) My Bounce had the old-style surgery on both knees --- before TPLO plates and such had been adapted for smaller dogs --- and while she can't jump nearly as high as she used to, she still runs around like a little maniac Best wishes to Luke for a return to activity! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellaz Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Our Buffy had surgery on both knees and after the inital recovery period she was like brand new, she did suffer from arthritis but not till later years, she lived to the great age of 16 1/2. You would never have known she had the surgery.. Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Devils Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 My acd had TPLO just over a year ago at the age of 7 yrs. For me, I weighed the pros and cons to the surgery. The chances of severe arthritis were increased if no surgery, stability in the leg is not as good, she would never be able to play flyball again (she lives for flyball), we would always be concerned about her re-injuring the leg, would have to be careful playing ball and frisbee (she also lievs for these), possibly blowing the other knee out, etc... Yes surgery was expensive but as our vet said - her joint is probably stronger now than it ever was, the chances of arthritis with TPLO is less, there is also less chances of her blowing her other knee, she can play and do what she wants, etc... She is back to playing flyball and running similar times after surgery as before... She is a happy dog. We did bring in a rehab specialist though and went to rehab clinic to make sure her leg was as good as new. We know our dog though - Foster is happiest if she can act like a full playing at 150% and we knew she would not handle cutting back activites indefinitely. I can definitely understand not wanting to do the surgery because of fears of something happening but I think the pros out way the cons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCjetta Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 If you do not do surgery, arthritis will definitly form. With smaller dogs (less than 20 lbs) some people leave them and they do ok. Its not recommended for a high energy sport type dog though. I'd go for surgery either way, I'm just not sure which one I'd choose. I talked to a rehab vet who said any dog over 60-80 lbs he recommended TPLO on, and any sporting dog (ie herding, agility etc). If it was just the average house dog he recommended the old way, but still have a board certified surgeon do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starbuck Posted October 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 I have been monitoring both the orthodogs and conservative theraphy news groups and are having severe second thoughts about conservative. Has anyone had experience with the traditional repair? Luke is a big guy at 55lb and the surgeon still recommends the TPLO ( I have access the a very well qualified surgeon who has performed hundreds of these). However, it still worries me. Even with the best he could still develop problems which could require another surgery. Add to that his other leg could go. I am not sure we can afford that (@3400 a surgery). We are allready at 5k and counting for vet bills this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Devils Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 If you don't do surgery you increase the odds of the other knee blowing out. TPLO decreases the odds of blowing out the other knee. TPLO is also less recovery time/less invasive (to a point). With TPLO they basically cut the bone and turn it 180 degrees and screw it back together with a plate and screws. The bone will fuse together. It is considered the most stable joint at this rate. If you are concerned about money traditional may be the way to go but it takes a couple months longer to heal fully from what I was told. Either way - do the surgery. A blown ACL does not really heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCjetta Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 I would go with the TPLO. There is a greater chance his other leg will go too, but if you fix one with the TPLO it will be a lot more stable....and then you could do the second one the traditional way and he'd still have one really solid leg. Just a thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 I can say that dogs with ACL tears arent usually too happy about it when not treated. I've seen several who opted not to fix it or were saving for it. They dog's lack of that tendon makes the leg wobble and gives an almost hip diplaysia look and roll (depending on what cruciate is torn) I've seena double cruciate surgery (the young lab had torn loose both his dorsal AND caudal cruciates :-/ ) It was a long, intensive and neat surgery. The dog recovered fine over time. I dont know the difference between the old and the new way.. Not sure there the metal implant comes in.. the one I saw have noting but suture material that was foreign. But.. My family's GSD has a Triple Pelvic Osteotomy. In this procedure, an accident (small truck backed onto his hip) had dislocated his hip and the ball joint would not hold it in place. So they cut the pelvis and turn it to accept the ball of the hip. Then then place a small triangular plate to hold the pelvis correctly with three lil screws. Well, he did GREAT, recovered fast and was great for years. Recently he has fairly advance arthritis in his hips as well as spondyls in he back but his surgery hip is the same severity if not a bit better then his other hip. So, the metal in our surgery didnt cause any problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starbuck Posted October 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Thanks everyone. We have decided to do a TPLO next week. Hopefully, we will get the good outcome Luke deserves. I probably shouldn't have spent a couple of weeks thinking about it, but I just had to figure out the best balance of costs, risks and probable outcomes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Devils Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 I am glad you made a decision. Now you need to research your rehab options. That is oh so much fun to do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.