ACL surgery has
changed dramatically over the past few
years. We can expect a return of at least
95 percent of normal function in a minimum of
95 percent of canine patients of any size after ACL surgery.
Dr. Phil Zeltzman,
board-certified veterinary surgeon and author.
“ ”
From “10 Deadly Sins of Untreated ACLs”
Dr. Baird, KeevaRue and Stitch.
Elizabeth F. Baird, DVM, CVPP, CCRT, cVMA is certified in pain management, canine rehabilitation and veterinary medical acupuncture. She is the Practice Owner of Country Oaks Animal Hospital & Kennel and Steele Pain Management & Rehabilitation Center 1412 Belcher Road Palm Harbor Hospital & Kennel: 727.785.6524 Rehab Center:
727.785.HURT.
X-ray with the titanium implant is of a Golden Retriever at well over eight weeks post-op, showing bone healing around the implant from a TTA procedure.
if the fibrous cushions, called the menisci are intact. If the meniscus (usually the medial
one) is damaged, it will need to be trimmed to remove the damaged portion as spontaneous healing of that tissue is poor. The damaged remnants of the Cruciate ligament are also removed as they contribute to inflammation. There is a recent movement to manage these dogs with rehabilitation (physical therapy for dogs) alone, but it is a slower process to weight bearing than surgery followed by rehab. Controlled exercise restriction is
needed following any major orthopedic surgery. Excessive restriction leads to stiff- ening of the soft tissues, joint restriction and muscle loss due to lack of use. Controlled exercise through rehabilitation can have a positive impact on return to function, both in recovery time and the degree of recovery. Pain management is essential throughout the process. Without an intact Cranial Cruciate
ligament, the stifle will never be as normal as the original and some arthritis is
www.TheNewBarker.com
X-ray of a Terrier under 30lbs with a torn ACL that ultimately had an extracapsular
repair due to her size. Pre-operatively, there is visible subtle evidence of degenerative joint changes
ACL trauma just as there are from other causes of arthritis like hip dysplasia. Adequan® injections, appropriate joint supplements and weight management are very important. One last word of caution, about 50%
of dogs that have ruptured a Cruciate ligament will suffer a rupture of the ligament in the other stifle within 12-18 months. These cases are usually in dogs that had gradual degenerative change prior to the full rupture. The forces that lead to failure of the first ligament may lead to failure of the second one as well. The good news is that the majority of
dogs who had a Cruciate ligament injury and had the stifle treated will go on to normal, happy, functional lives, and can enjoy an active lifestyle once fully recovered and rehabilitated after surgery. There are many examples of competition dogs returning to their sport after recovery from Cruciate injury, whether it be agility, lure coursing, dock diving or fly-ball, particularly with the combined applica- tion of surgical, biologic and rehabilitation therapies.
U THE NEW BARKER 81
A 28lb Beagle, even if overweight, is typi- cally managed with an extracapsular repair. Large and giant breed dogs will usually have a TPLO or TTA procedure. In all cases, the joint will be inspected to see
inevitable. But without surgical stabiliza- tion of the stifle, the arthritis and dysfunc- tion are typically much more severe. There are many treatments to help reduce the arthritis and disability from
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