At Wessex Veterinary Orthopaedics we have accumulated a combined experience of over 4000 TPLOs. We also published the first report of TPLO in small breed dogs (where previously the technique had not been used for dogs under 15kg) in the American journal, Veterinary Surgery, in 2014* and we continue to pioneer TPLO and provide the veterinary profession with up-to-date education regarding cruciate disease†.
We have experience of most of the techniques that have been reported for managing canine cruciate disease. That experience agrees with an increasing body of published literature that TPLO carries the best outcomes. Nonetheless, other procedures exist and are sometimes appropriate, and our expertise means we offer a surgical approach tailored to the individual.
We pioneered single-session bilateral TPLO from 2008 to 2020 without experiencing an increase in the risk of complications. Many dogs are affected by cruciate disease bilaterally. Sometimes this is apparent on examination. However, we know that the presence of radiographic effusion in a stifle contralateral to a stifle with confirmed cruciate disease is indicative of bilateral cruciate disease. By offering single-session bilateral TPLO we can minimise disruption for clients, the number of times dogs are anaesthetised and the duration of post-operative exercise restriction. A single convalescence is something which clients tend to appreciate when compared with staged procedures, which result in a protracted recovery time.
Cruciate surgeries are typically performed on the day of the initial consultation and dogs will remain hospitalised overnight for analgesia and monitoring. We then recommend a single re-examination with the referring veterinary surgeon after 3-7 days. Follow-up examinations (typically around 8 weeks following surgery) can be performed at our premises in Poole, or with the referring practice.
Along with all our other surgical procedures our TPLOs are fixed-price, including the consultation, pre-operative radiography, surgery, one night’s hospitalisation and a re-examination (including radiographs if necessary) at 8 weeks following surgery. Complications are rare following our TPLOs, but the occasional infection is inevitable. We were among the first to offer a guarantee to cover the costs of complications (T&Cs apply) when we worked together at another centre and we are pleased to offer this peace-of-mind at Wessex Veterinary Orthopaedics.
* Witte PG, Scott HW (2014) Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in small breed dogs with high tibial plateau angles using a 4-hole 1.9/2.5mm locking T-plate. Veterinary Surgery. 43: 549-57
* Witte PG, Scott HW (2014) Canine Cruciate Disease- Aetiology and Diagnosis Vet CPD 1(2): 51-5
* Witte PG, Scott HW (2014) Canine Cruciate Disease- Options for Management Vet CPD 1(3): 34-40
* Witte PG (2015) Tibial anatomy in normal small breed dogs including anisometry of various extracapsular stabilising suture attachment sites (2015) Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 28: 331-38
* Harris K, Witte P (2016) How To….. Diagnose canine cranial cruciate ligament disease. BSAVA Companion, 2016: 12-17
* Craig A, Witte PG, Scott HW (2017) Sagittal accuracy of tibial osteotomy position during in vivo tibial plateau levelling osteotomy performed without an alignment jig and cutting guide. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology 30: 37-45
* Lhuillery E, Witte PG (2019) Extra-capsular articulating implant to treat cranial cruciate ligament disease in a dog with multiple myeloma. Veterinary Record Case Reports-2018-000767
* Serrani D, Picavet PP, Marti J, Bouvy B, Balligand M, Witte PG (2022) Tibial plateau leveling following tibial tuberosity advancement: a case series. Veterinary Sciences. 9(1): 16
† And a popular annual 3-week on-line CPD course for veterinary general practitioners and those seeking to follow a path to specialisation “Common causes of stifle disease” run by Phil in conjunction with Vet CPD.
