Hock surgery

A young collie presented to us with severe deformities of both hind limbs. Both tibias (shin bones) were massively twisted so that her hocks (equivalent to our ankles) and her stifles (equivalent to our knees) worked at right angles to each other instead of working in parallel alignment as they should do.

Achilles tendon problems are referred to us relatively frequently. The Achilles tendon functions, along with the muscles that contribute to it, to extend the ankle. This keeps the “heel” off the ground and allows the dog or cat to walk on tip-toe as normal.

Roxy, and enthusiastic 34kg 8 month old Labrador bitch, presented with hind limb lameness associated with instability of the medial collateral tibio-talar ligament, (the ligaments that run down the inside of the ankle). Ligaments exist to prevent motion of joints in directions that is not desirable – in this case, preventing side to side motion of the hock.

Fusion of the tarsal joints is often indicated when there is irrevocable traumatic damage to the joint(s) often involving ligament damage. Some breeds like Shelties are especially prone to spontaneous collapse of the tarsal (and carpal) joints under normal loading.