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TPLO Overview
What is TPLO Surgery?
TPLO Overview
What is TPLO Surgery?
Learn what a veterinary surgeon does in a TPLO procedure to help alleviate your pet’s pain
In a TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) procedure, a curved cut is made near the top of the tibia, which is then rotated to reduce the slope (this is where the “leveling” comes from) and stabilize the knee. A stainless-steel bone plate is held to the tibia with bone screws to secure the tibia in position while the bone heals.
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Learn what a veterinary surgeon does in a TPLO procedure to help alleviate your pet’s pain
In a TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) procedure, a curved cut is made near the top of the tibia, which is then rotated to reduce the slope (this is where the “leveling” comes from) and stabilize the knee. A stainless-steel bone plate is held to the tibia with bone screws to secure the tibia in position while the bone heals.
Recognizing, diagnosing, and treating CCL ruptures
When the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears, the dog usually is not able to bear full weight on the leg and may carry the leg. The tibia (shin bone) will move forward in relationship to the femur (thigh bone) while walking. During examination of the joint, this looseness is referred to by your doctor as the “cranial drawer sign.” This is what TPLO surgery is designed to correct.
What happens with a damaged CCL?
When a dog walks, the CCL prevents the femur from sliding down the slope at the top of the tibia. If the ligament is damaged, the femur will slide back and the tibia will slide forward, causing pain.
Signs that your dog may have a knee injury
A veterinary surgeon tells you how to interpret your dog’s pain signals including
- Weight bearing issues in the hind leg
- Non-weight bearing lameness
- Sitting with hind legs out to the side
- Clicking or popping of the knee joint
Diagnosing CCL damage
Get an orthopaedic examination to check for discomfort and instability on stifle manipulation with
- Cranial drawer test
- Cranial tibial thrust tests
- Radiographs (x-rays) of the knee
- Range of motion
Explore TPLO
TPLO Basics
Get a basic understanding of the tibial leveling plateau osteotomy surgery.
What to Expect Before and After Surgery
As your pet’s advocate, you can prepare yourself with knowledge and a list of questions for your veterinary surgeon.
Why DePuy Synthes instead of traditional systems?
The fixed angle of the DePuy Synthes product does not rely on friction between the plate and the bone to maintain its integrity. See why that may mean faster healing.