CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TEAR

The Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) is a crucial ligament in the knee joint, connecting the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). It prevents the tibia from sliding forward and rotating, stabilizing the knee. CCL tears may occur due to trauma (sudden injury) or, more commonly, through a degenerative process that weakens the ligament over time. Obesity, breed predisposition, age, and activity level can all contribute to this degeneration. A pet experiencing a CCL tear may show signs of lameness, pain and/or not want to bear weight on the leg.

In veterinary medicine, a CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament) tear, similar to an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in humans, is a common injury affecting the knee joint in dogs. It's a major cause of hind limb lameness and pain, often requiring surgery to restore stability and function to the knee.

Different surgical procedures are used in veterinary medicine to repair a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs. These techniques aim to stabilize the knee joint and restore function, with the most common options being extracapsular repair (lateral suture), tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). Consult with your veterinarian to help determine which technique is the right choice for your animal companion.

LATERAL SUTURE

An Extracapsular Repair (Lateral Suture) is a surgical technique which involves placing a strong suture material outside the joint capsule to mimic the function of the torn CCL.

TIBIAL TUBEROSITY ADVANCEMENT

Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) is a geometric orthopedic surgery which involves cutting and advancing the tibial tuberosity (the bony prominence where the patellar tendon attaches), in order to neutralize the forces which cause instability in the knee joint.

TIBIAL PLATEAU LEVELING OSTEOTOMY

A TIbial PIateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) procedure involves cutting and rotating the tibial plateau to change the biomechanics of the knee joint, to provide stability.

How do you diganose a CCL tear?

An initial consult with an experienced veterinary surgeon is required and perform a complete physical exam to determine if a CCL tear is likely. If the CCL tear is likely, a full set of diagnostic x-rays under sedation is required for your dog to obtain high quality images, accurate measurements to assess and determine a plan of care.

Which procedure is best for my pet?

While a number of surgical procedures are available to repair a torn CCL; not every surgery type is suitable for every pet. A number of factors may influence which surgical procedure is best for your pet including their age, weight, breed disposition and activity level.

The choice of surgical technique used should be tailored to the individual dog's needs and circumstances. Regardless of the surgical procedure used, it is important pet owners realize your pet will require a period of rest, rehabilitation and follow-up care.

Consultation with a veterinary surgeon experienced in orthopedic (CCL repairs) will help to determine the best approach for your pet.