Cruciate Surgery

The cranial cruciate ligament plays an important role in providing stability in the dog’s knee (stifle) joint. When this ligament is damaged or ruptured, the stifle becomes unstable, leading to pain, lameness, and the development of arthritis.

Certain breeds, such as Labradors, Rottweilers, American Bulldogs, Bichon Frise and others, are genetically more predisposed to cruciate ligament injury. This means that ligament degeneration and subsequent rupture can occur even without significant trauma. The incidence is also higher in middle-aged and overweight dogs.

Surgical intervention is recommended for most patients to restore stability to the knee joint, alleviate pain, and prevent the progression of arthritis. Without surgery, the joint remains unstable, leading to chronic pain and further joint damage.

The fixed cost for either of these surgeries is £2019 (plus the cost of X-rays if not previously performed at an Animal Trust site - £419)

Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO)

This involves making a semi-circular cut near the top of the tibia (shin bone) and rotating the bone into a new position. This is held in position with a specially designed bone plate and screws. The new position of the bone alters the biomechanics of the joint, stabilising the stifle (knee)

Closing Wedge Osteotomy (CWO)

This involves cutting and removing a wedge of bone from the tibia (shin bone), closing and realigning the bone, and securing the tibia in its new position using a bone plate and screws. The new position of the bone alters the biomechanics of the joint, stabilising the stifle (knee) During the surgery, the joint itself will also be inspected, and the torn cruciate ligament will be removed. The surgeon will also examine the menisci, which are tough pieces of cartilage within the joint that provide shock absorption and aid smooth motion. Approximately 50% of dogs will have torn a meniscus at the same time as injuring their cruciate ligament. The torn bits of the meniscus will also be removed. A few dogs may suffer from a ‘late meniscal injury’ where the meniscus tears during recovery following surgery. This can, unfortunately, require further surgery.

Recovery

Following surgery, your dog will need strict rest, ideally in a dog crate for 2 – 4 weeks. During this time, they can go out for short periods (5-10 minutes) of controlled lead exercise 3 – 4 times daily. We recommend gradually increasing lead exercise over several weeks. The typical recovery time for the majority of dogs is around 12 weeks. Physiotherapy or hydrotherapy may be beneficial during this period. We do not routinely take further X-rays during the recovery period unless we are worried that recovery is not as expected.