Confused about the difference between a TTA and a TPLO for your dog's torn cruciate ligament? I know, me too :) So, a vet friend-of-a-friend called Dr. K, agreed to write me up a ghost blog post on TTAs and what they are all about.
[Dr. K is shy and won't let me share her name or location but she-who-shall-not-be-named is a peach for doing this for me - you know who you are :)]
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Tibial tuberosity advancement or TTA for short is the newest procedure in the field of surgical management for rupture of the canine cranial cruciate ligament.
This ligament serves several functions in the canine knee (or stifle). It prevents overextension, excessive internal rotation of the stifle but most importantly prevents cranial shear. Cranial shear or tibial thrust is an abnormal motion in which the tibia (shin bone) shifts forward and the femur (thigh bone) will shift back, as in the diagram to the right. This instability of the knee results in chronic pain, inflammation and the development of arthritis.
TTA is similar to TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) in that it surgically addresses this force. It differs in that it takes into account the pull of the quadriceps muscles. TTA is less invasive than the TPLO as the amount of dissection and the amount of bone that is moved is much less. As a result, patients are comfortable much sooner after surgery.
Not every dog is a candidate for TTA. Only your veterinarian can decide the best procedure for your pet. The TTA does not address patients that have very steep slopes of the tibial plateau (top of the tibia that touches the femur). The implants also do not come for excessively small or excessively large dogs. To the left, you can see a radiograph of a patient after the TTA procedure.
It is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions after surgery. Failure to keep your dog away from the incision can result in infection of the leg/implants (which may result in a second procedure) as well as delayed healing. Even though your dog will be more comfortable sooner after surgery, he/she still needs time for the bone to heal. Permitting your dog to be too active in the recovery can result in fracture of the implants or the leg, which will prolong recovery and likely necessitate a second surgical procedure. _____________________________________________________________________________________
Fascinating stuff but inquiring minds want to know more so I'll post additional info about this leading edge surgical procedure tomorrow.
Got anything you want me to ask Dr. K about the TTA?
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