Cruciate or acl surgery
What is an ACL or cranial cruciate ligament?
The cranial cruciate ligament (also known as the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL) is the most important ligament in the knee for keeping the joint stable. It’s primary job is to prevent forward/backward motion of the femur and tibia, the two opposing bones of the joint. When this ligament tears or ruptures, even partially, those two bones slide back and forth on each other, known as “drawer motion”. This motion and instability causes inflammation of the joint, and is quite painful to the animal. If the joint is not stabilized, arthritis can develop over time, and long term lameness can result.
How can an ACL tear be repaired?
At Animal Hospital of Stone Park, we offer Extra-capsular techniques include several techniques that employ a synthetic “mimic” of the cranial cruciate ligament. Each technique is slightly different, but all involve a surgical implant being inserted beside or around the joint to stabilize the two bones of the knee and minimize the “drawer motion”.
What does the post-op care involve?
How will my dog recover from surgery? Your dog may or may not be hospitalized overnight, on IV fluids and pain medications to allow him/her to rest for the first night following surgery. Generally most orthopedic patients are set to go home the following day, and are sent home on oral pain medication, antibiotics, and sometimes mild sedatives. Once at home, you will need to keep your dog strictly confined for the first few days following surgery; TPLO recovery takes time and patience. Over the next few weeks and months, there are physiotherapy and exercises you can perform to help restore your pet’s function and mobility. Adequate rest and dedicated physiotherapy are the two more important aspects to a successful recovery.
Will my dog be in pain after the surgery?
It is our goal to ensure, with every orthopedic surgery, that each pet has adequate pain control before, during, and after surgery. Your dog will receive a sedative containing an opioid pain medication before anesthesia, and once under anesthetic, most patients will then receive an epidural which generally lasts 6-8 hours. We maintain each patient on IV fluids during and after the surgery into which we add additional pain medication to keep them comfortable post-op and throughout the night. Each patient will go home with oral medications as well to keep them calm and quiet during their recovery time. Antibiotics, two types of pain medications, and often mild sedatives are sent home with your dog. All of these medications work in conjunction with each other, and can be given at the same time. Please continue all prescriptions as prescribed, even if your dog “seems fine” and you think s/he doesn’t need them. Sometimes your dog will vocalize once they are home, but this is a common side effect of the anesthesia itself; it can take 24 hours or more for the anesthetic drugs to wear off. If your dog continues to be agitated, vocalize, or otherwise not himself/herself after the first 48 hours have passed, please give our clinic a call.