Essential Facts On TTA Surgery

By Cathy Mercer


TTA surgery is the surgical procedure that is employed in management of anterior cruciate rupture that affects ligaments found at knee joints of dogs. TTA is abbreviation for Tibial tuberosity advancement. During this procedure, the top part of tibia is cut. After being cut, it gets moved in the forward direction to stabilize it in its new position. Lameness in dogs is mostly caused by cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

In order to understand how the procedure works, it is essential to understand what happens when these animals suffer from the condition. When there is such rupturing of ligaments, thigh bones develop some form of instability. If the dog was to take some weight to the affected limb, there is relative movement between the tibia and the thigh bone. The severity in lameness that the dog feels is attributed to the tendency of the thigh bone to feel like giving away.

Thus basically, the surgical procedure aims to make tibial plateau perpendicular to patellar tendon. Consequently, there is inability of shin bones to move forward. If this is achieved effectively, the knee regains stability.

Performing the surgery on dogs is not the only option, neither should it be the first consideration. It is only considered once all other alternatives have failed to offer any help. Even when it is to be done, it only becomes necessary if the benefits far outweigh the risks. The surgical procedure gets performed only on medium and large breed dogs.

Dogs need very careful evaluation to determine if they need TTA surgery. After the examination is done in the beginning, there is need for additional palpation under light anesthesia. Such additional palpation serves to detect any further instability. Specific x-ray images are obtained of thigh bone and tibia. With this, there can be assessment of presence of osteoarthritis. The tibial plateau angle is also measured.

Prior preparation for the surgery is enhanced by the x-rays obtained. This is because with these images, it should be possible to evaluate the amount of bone that needs advancement, size of implants required for stabilization of bones and the location of the cut at the bone. Sample fluids from the knees are sent to the laboratory for examination.

The actual surgery may either performed on the same day of the investigations or on a different day. At the same time when there is administration of anesthesia, antibiotics and painkillers are given as well. What follows is clipping of the limb at the level of the hip to the ankle. After the entire surgical operation, more x-rays are obtained to be used for further assessment. Most dogs are discharged on the same day, only a few may get admitted.

The aftercare that follows TTA surgery is very vital. The rehabilitation period is several months. If one realizes that the dog licks its wounds so much, a plastic collar should be used for prevention of this. Two weeks following the operation, the surgeon should be visited for further examination and removal of the sutures. Any exercises for dogs during the recovery period should be restricted.




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