If your dog has a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL/ACL), a vet may recommend surgery to repair the damage and get your dog up and running again. Here are three common surgery options for treating this painful knee injury in dogs.
ACL Injuries & Your Dog's Knees
Keeping your canine companion's knees healthy and pain-free is essential to providing your dog with an active lifestyle.
However, while there are many high-quality dog foods and supplements that may help keep your dog's joints in good condition, cruciate injuries (or ACL injuries as they are commonly called) can happen without warning and can cause your dog a great deal of discomfort.
What is the cranial cruciate ligament in dogs?
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL, ACL, or cruciate) is one of two ligaments in your dog's leg which works to connect the shin bone to the thigh bone and allow for proper movement of the knee.
Injury leading to knee pain that stems from a torn ACL can occur suddenly during exercise, but will often gradually develop over a period of time. If your pooch has an injured cruciate and continues to jump, run, and play, then the injury is likely to become much more severe and symptoms will become more painful and pronounced.
What causes the dog's knee pain?
When your pup is suffering from a torn ACL, the pain arises from the knee's instability and a motion called 'tibial thrust'.
Tibial thrust is a sliding motion caused by the transmission of weight up your dog's shin bone (tibia) and across the knee, causing the tibia to “thrust” forward in relation to the dog's thigh bone (femur). This forward thrust movement happens because the top of the tibia is sloped, and your pup's injured ACL is unable to prevent the unwanted movement from occurring.
What are the signs and symptoms of ACL injuries in dogs
If your dog is suffering from knee pain due to an injured ALC they will not be able to run or walk normally and will likely display other symptoms such as:
- Difficulties rising up off of the floor
- Limping in their hind legs
- Stiffness following exercise
What treatment is available for ACL injuries in dogs?
ACL injuries do not heal themselves. If your pup is showing signs of a torn ACL it's important to see a vet to have the condition diagnosed so that treatment can begin before symptoms become more severe and more painful.
If your dog has a torn ACL, your vet is likely to recommend one of three knee surgeries to help your dog to return to an active lifestyle.
ELSS / ECLS - Extracapsular Lateral Suture Stabilization
This ACL surgery is typically used to treat dog's that weigh less than 50 pounds and works by preventing the tibial thrust with a surgically placed suture. The suture stabilizes your pup's knee by pulling the joint tight and preventing the front-to-back sliding of the tibia so that the ACL has time to heal, and the muscles surrounding the knee have an opportunity to regain their strength. ELSS surgery is fairly quick and uncomplicated, with a good success rate in smaller dogs.
TPLO - Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy
TPLO is more complicated than ELSS surgery, but very successful in treating ACL injuries in dogs. This surgery option aims to reduce tibial thrust without relying on the dog's ACL. The procedure involves making a complete cut through the top of the tibia (tibial plateau), then rotating the tibial plateau in order to change its angle. A metal plate is then added to stabilize the cut bone as it heals. Over the course of several months, your dog's leg will gradually heal and strengthen.
TTA - Tibial Tuberosity Advancement
TTA is similar to TPLO but tends not to be used as often. This knee surgery involves surgically separating the front part of the tibia from the rest of the bone, then adding a spacer between the two sections to move the front section up and forward. This helps to prevent much of the tibia thrust movement from occurring. A bone plate will be attached to hold the front section of the tibia in its correct position until the bone has had sufficient time to heal. Dogs with a steep tibial plateau (angle of the top section of the tibia) are excellent candidates for this type of ACL surgery.
Which type of ACL surgery is right for my dog?
Following a thorough examination of your dog's knee movement, and geometry, your vet will consider your pup's age, weight, size and lifestyle, then recommend the best treatment for your dog.
How long will it take for my dog to recover from ACL surgery?
No matter which treatment option you and your vet decide upon, healing from ACL surgery is a long process. With TPLO surgery, many dogs are able to walk as soon as 24 hours after surgery. However, a full recovery and a return to normal activities will normally take 12 to 16 weeks. It is essential to follow your vet's post-operative instructions in order to help your dog to return to normal activities as quickly and safely as possible without risking re-injury. Allowing your dog to return to an active lifestyle too soon after surgery could lead to injuring the knee all over again.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.