Veterinary Bone, Joint & Spine Center

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy
A tibial-plateau-leveling-osteotomy (TPLO) is a common orthopedic procedure to repair a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs. This procedure is considered the gold standard by most board certified surgeons and requires a substantial amount of training, such as would be obtained during the course of a residency program, and experience to perform well. The CCL is the primary weight-bearing ligament in a dog’s knee, making it susceptible to injury. In fact, injury to this ligament is the most common orthopedic injury in dogs. There are multiple surgical approaches to correct a cruciate ligament tear. Having an experienced board-certified veterinary surgeon on your team is important to help minimize the likelihood of a complication.  

Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation is typically a congenital malformation of the knee joint that leads to abnormal tracking of the knee cap (patella) along the femur. This abnormality can lead to an intermittent dislocation of the patella out of alignment which causes discomfort, pain, an abnormal gait, and degenerative joint disease.

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat many joint problems, such as elbow dysplasia. A narrow tube attached to a video camera is inserted through a small incision. The camera feed is transmitted to a video monitor, allowing our surgeon to have a magnified, high definition view of the joint. Small instruments can then be used to treat your pet through the same small incision without a need for an invasive open surgery site. Most pets are walking on their operated limb the same day.

Fractures that cannot heal by wearing a cast will require a surgical approach for stabilization. Fracture repairs can be very complex, and may involve the use of screws, pins, and  bone plates to ensure that the bone heals appropriately.

Pain control is a priority when a patient is seen for evaluation of a fracture. Diagnostic imaging is crucial for making an appropriate plan for repair. Many fractures can be properly evaluated through routine x-rays, while some may require a CT scan so that a 3D image can be made and allow for appropriate surgical planning. If needed, we will 3D Print fractures to better understand how to fix them. Special consideration must be made for fractures involving the growth plates in a young animal.

We are the first hospital in the region to start a program of this caliber. Canine Total Hip Replacements have been performed successfully in dogs for decades. With advances in technology, you can expect an approximate 90-95% success rate, which results in an excellent quality of life and the ideal solution for dogs affected with hip dysplasia.

Hip replacements can be performed as early as one year of age, simply because dogs don’t live as long as humans. Several other surgical interventions that your pet may be a candidate for include: triple pelvic osteotomy, juvenile pubic symphysiodesis, or femoral head and neck ostectomy. If your pet is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a consultation with a boarded veterinary surgeon to discuss the pros and cons of treatment strategies is recommended right away. Some of the surgical options are time sensitive, and the progression of hip dysplasia may render the procedure suboptimal.

If your dog has a slipped or herniated disc, a decompressive surgery such as a hemilaminectomy or ventral slot may be recommended by your family veterinarian. Because this operation deals with the area surrounding the spinal cord, only a surgeon specially trained in neurosurgery should perform this procedure. All of the surgeons at VRCCO are trained in neurosurgery.

The goal of the procedure is to remove the ruptured disc material to alleviate compression on the spine. Prior to the procedure, your pet will undergo a CT scan or MRI with contrast to appropriately visualize the affected disc. This allows us to perform surgery at the correct location.

This surgery may also be recommended for severe or recurrent cases of Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). IVDD is a common ailment affecting dogs, especially breeds that have long backs, like dachshunds and other popular breeds such as french bulldogs. In general, rehabilitation therapy is highly beneficial for patients undergoing spinal surgery.

Some dogs have dynamic spinal instability which leads to chronic discomfort or neurologic decline as the spinal cord and nerves exiting the spinal cord become compressed or traumatized. Common version of dynamic spinal disease include cervical spondylomyelopathy (“Wobbler’s disease”) and lumbosacral disease. These conditions may be well managed with medical management and rehabilitation therapy however some require surgical intervention. It is important to have an accurate diagnosis and accurate diagnostic imaging to make these decisions.