At Vets in Fawkner, we recently welcomed a new veterinarian, Dr Natasha. With her wealth of knowledge and skills, she has already become a valuable member of our team. One of her key interests is orthopedic surgery, and in recent weeks we completed a tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO). We’re excited to continue expanding our team’s knowledge in orthopedics particularly cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries and the canine knee.
The knee of our canine friends (also called the stifle) is a complex joint. The thigh bone (femur) has a rounded end that sits on the sloping, flat top of the shin bone (tibia). This unique design means the femur naturally tends to slide down the tibia when the leg is bearing weight. The cruciate ligaments, located within the joint, work to prevent this movement.
It’s common for dogs to damage the cranial (anterior) cruciate ligament, often referred to as the ACL or CCL. When this ligament is torn, the joint becomes unstable and moves abnormally with each step, which is why surgical correction is usually required.
For smaller dogs, we can perform a De Angelis (external fixation) procedure. This involves placing a strong suture, similar to the fishing line to mimic the function of the ligament. For larger dogs, we instead alter the slope of the tibia so that the sliding motion no longer occurs. This procedure is known as a TPLO (tibial plateau levelling osteotomy).
Vets in Fawkner are now offering both procedures, providing more options close to home to help keep our canine companions active and comfortable.
