How can TPLO surgery fail?
Implant failure is extremely rare, but is the most catastrophic potential complication. Plates and screws used with the TPLO are very strong. However, in rare cases when pets are allowed too much activity very early on in the healing process, it’s possible for the plate to bend or for the screws to bend or break.
What to expect from a TPLO postop recovery?
TPLO Postop Recovery. Follow up care of the TPLO dog should include yearly rechecks with a veterinarian to evaluate the degree of arthritis in the knee. While the TPLO procedure will help to slow the progression of arthritis in the joint, no surgical procedure can ever completely rid your dog of this degenerative condition.
When do dogs return to normal after TPLO surgery?
The success rate of TPLO surgery is extremely high, with as many as 90-95% of dogs returning to near-normal function. Most dogs achieve about 95% of their normal limb function and return to their prior level of activity approximately 10-12 weeks post-TPLO surgery.
What are the side effects of TPLO / TTA surgery?
— Failure of the patellar ligament due to increased stress on that ligament caused by altered joint geometry. — Failure to heal of the saw-cut re-positioned bone segments. — Damage to the joint’s meniscus following the ‘meniscus-release’ often done in association with TPLOs.
How many dogs have no use of their legs after TPLO?
— This doesn’t mean that the other 89.1% of dogs who have TPLOs have no use of the leg after a TPLO surgery and recuperation.
What to expect during a dog’s TPLO surgery recovery?
Several people told me to be prepared to devote two weeks to TPLO surgery recovery and they weren’t kidding. Scooby hobbled out to the kitchen to eat but then refused his pills. As a dog who takes daily allergy medicine, he often goes through spurts where he figures out they’re being hidden in peanut butter, bread, hot dogs — you name it.
What do you need to know about TPLO surgery?
By rotating the tibial plateau and “leveling” it, the goal is to prevent the femur (thigh bone) from sliding down the slope of the tibia and helping to stabilize the knee. At ASOC, all our surgeons are board-certified and have extensive experience performing TPLO surgeries. ASOC was the first practice to perform TPLO in the Greater Seattle area.
How long does it take for a TPLO to heal?
Often with the TPLO surgery the dogs “feel” good. Whatever you do…don’t be one of these statistics. Over-activity can be devastating with regards to the TPLO. Remember this surgery involves cutting bone, therefore essentially there is a broken bone that needs to heal. Primary healing takes a minimum of 8 weeks. IN CONCLUSION:
Is the tibial plateau osteotomy ( TPLO ) an effective surgery?
Now in existence for over 20 years, the surgery has proven itself time and time again, to be an extremely effective long-term solution for addressing this injury in dogs, providing quicker recovery and superior long-term results.
