My big dog needs ACL surgery. Is Lateral Suture the right choice?

Either surgery could be successful, but TPLO has a better success rate in larger dogs. There are some studies that show that dogs that have had a TPLO put more weight on the leg after surgery and have better long term outcomes. One benefit to the lateral fabellar suture technique is that it tends to be less expensive. Ultimately it is your decision to make, and I would trust the surgeon’s expertise as well.

A torn cruciate ligament in the knee is not something you need to rush to surgery for. I'm a rehab veterinarian and I usually recommend rest, anti inflammatory medication, and short leash walks for potty only. If she is improving over the next few weeks then she may recover well without surgery. If there is no improvement or she starts using it, then gets worse again then I do recommend surgery. It is very important to prevent any jumping and no explosive movements. Basically Gumbo needs to be leash walked only for up to three months for her to recover without surgery. Also if you have a veterinary rehab clinic near you taking her for treatment there would assist her recovery without surgery. If you have additional questions please request a consultation with me and I can answer them. This is the most common injury I see in my practice. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Gumbo.

Hello, and thanks for your question. There is no single right answer to this question, and you may get different answers from different veterinarians. My own thoughts, without knowing all the details about Lola, is no - I probably would not recommend that you pursue the operation in this case. The surgery will help stabilize her knee, but it won't reverse the damage from arthritis. The recovery period can be really hard on dogs with other orthopedic issues, and older dogs heal slower. Also, her small size works in her favor, as small dogs definitely fare better than large dogs without surgical correction of a cruciate tear. All of these factors to me would add up to the benefits of surgery not outweighing the down sides. I do encourage you to have a frank conversation with Lola's primary vet who knows her best - or even request a consult with the surgeon. Most surgeons will be pretty frank about how much improvement you can expect. I have had patients pursue cruciate surgery in their older years - but typically it's my older patients who are still quite active, who I expect to do well through recovery. From your description, I'm not sure Lola would be in that category. I hope this helps! I know it's not an easy straightforward decision and I can tell you're trying to make the best choice for her!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. A TPLO would be the most appropriate surgery based on Bella's size but I have had several patients that have not undergone surgery and developed severe arthritis in the affected knee and had difficulty walking on the leg. Unfortunately, the arthritis tends to worsen and the pain can become much worse in an untreated knee. There are other options for correcting a torn ACL but may not be the most appropriate for Bella. The lateral suture technique is much more affordable, requires less time to perform (less time under anesthesia) and stabilizes the knee. I've used this technique in much bigger dogs than Bella and they have never failed. There is always the chance that the repair may fail with the lateral suture with a dog Bella's size or bigger but it will stabilize the knee. I would discuss this other option with your veterinarian. I would consider doing something the stabilize the knee so that Bella is more comfortable. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

The overall recovery for this procedure typically takes 6-8 weeks. Most dogs show significant improvement after the first 2-3 weeks, but their bone is still healing in this time. Continue following Luna's vet's directions regarding the amount of rest or physical therapy exercises that she is to follow to help expedite her recovery. I hope that she's on the mend quickly! :-)

I think it would be worth a surgical consult if you're able. That doesn't mean you have to do the surgery but can help you make an informed decision. They may also have a physical therapy option that could be helpful with or without surgery.

It is recommended to have the cruciate surgery done, as it is the only fix for it. I can certainly understand being worried about a surgery, but while every surgery (even neutering) has it's risks, it is typically safe to have done. My own dog tore both her cruciate ligaments, and had to have two different surgeries done to fix it. She torn her left cruciate ligament first, then while healing from that surgery tore the right. When she was fully recovered, it was like having a new dog again. No pain at all, and completely back to normal. It's been 7 years since she had the surgeries, and I've never had another issue with her cruciate ligaments. Without it getting fixed, Shadow will be in a lot of pain, and will not be able to run or play as normal. He will also continue to be depressed because of this. Dogs are very closely monitored during surgery, and most surgeries go well without any problems. For the best quality of life, it should be done for Shadow. Certainly speak with the specialist about your concerns when you meet with them in 10 days. I hope everything goes ok with him!