Cruciate Repair

Specialist-led TPLO surgery and minimally invasive joint care for dogs and cats.

We perform cruciate ligament repair – Edmonton & Area
Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO)

Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency is a brand new, state of the art animal hospital conveniently located just off the Anthony Henday servicing Edmonton, Sherwood Park and the surrounding area. We are proud to be the only veterinarian owned referral hospital in Alberta and our committed to servicing the community in which we all work and live. We are available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days of a year. We are also available for specialty appointments by referral only.

Cruciate disease in dogs represents one of the most common reasons a dog is referred to see a veterinary surgeon. About 1 in 20 dogs will end up with cruciate ligament rupture in their lifetime. Dogs can rupture their ligaments either through a traumatic event or gradual weakening of the ligament. The most common clinical sign is a sudden onset lameness on one of the back legs, although cruciate disease can also present bilaterally (in both back legs). About 55-60% of dogs that tear a cruciate ligament in one knee will go on to tear the other side within 3 years. All dog breeds and cats can be prone to cruciate ligament injury although Rottweilers have a higher prevalence and Greyhounds are rarely affected.

Specialist-Led TPLO & Arthroscopy

Dr. Charles Bruce is a board-certified surgeon specializing in advanced surgical procedures including one of the most common techniques in cruciate repair, Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO). Dr. Bruce uses arthroscopy as a minimally invasive technique to investigate joints before performing the osteotomy. Arthroscopy of the stifle has been proven to identify more instances meniscal damage and therefore be able to treat it than simple arthrotomies (where the joint is opened) where it can be missed. At Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency we also use specially coated TPLO plates that are designed to reduce chances of infection.

The red arrow shows effusion in the knee from a ruptured cruciate. The yellow arrow shows the starting of osteoarthritis.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No – arthroscopy is included in the price of the procedure. We are very competitively priced with the intent to make this gold standard treatment available to as many dogs as possible.

  • Absolutely. There are numerous methods used to stabilize the knee after cruciate damage, TPLOs are preferred by most board-certified surgeons in North America, especially for large breed dogs.

  • Cruciate ligament rupture is considered a surgical condition in that it requires surgery to regain stability of the knee and to greatly minimize arthritic development over time. For the non-surgical patient activity expectations are lower and arthritis treatment and management are required over time.

  • While there is no guaranteed prevention, keeping your dog a lean body weight puts them in a lower risk category. Maintaining lean body weight is helpful for optimizing function and minimizing arthritis as well.

     

    Post-operative TPLO repair showing osteotomy.

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