Knee Anatomy
CCL stands for Cranial Cruciate Ligament. The two most common causes of cranial cruciate rupture are trauma and degeneration of the ligaments within the joint. Acute or traumatic cruciate rupture is caused by a twisting injury to the knee joint. This occurs most often when the dog is running and suddenly changes direction. Although a traumatic injury can cause a CCL rupture in dogs, rupture is thought to be the result of degeneration of the ligament over time, and is most likely to occur through normal activity. This injury is painful. These micro-traumas tear the CCL until it breaks completely (pictured) and the knee becomes unstable. That instability causes the knee to slide out of place and increases the risk of arthritis later in life. In order to correct this, a TPLO procedure is performed.
TPLO Surgery
TPLO or Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, is a surgical procedure used to treat CCL rupture in the knee joints of dogs. It involves changing the angle of the top of the shin bone (the tibial plateau) by cutting the bone, rotating it, and stabilizing it in a new position with a plate and screws. It takes about an hour to complete the surgery.
Post Op
Normally, we want the dog to have 2 weeks of rest after this procedure then we recommend starting physical therapy to help strengthen muscles and regain mobility. After this, they start a gradual return to normal exercise. Following the rules in these two months is an investment in success: think of it as short term pain for long term gain.
We hope this has been insightful and helpful in understanding this injury.
~Canine PT and Me Team