A cocker spaniel is over the moon after his lameness was cured by our expert team here at West Midlands Referrals.
The beloved five-year-old pet, called Moon, was referred to us with his left hind leg very badly damaged and needing extensive repairs.
WMR Managing Director and Specialist in Small Animal Surgery Toby Gemmill explained: “Moon arrived at WMR with a lameness in his left hind leg which had first developed in mid-July.
“An exploratory arthrotomy (internal examination) of the left stifle (knee) revealed an almost completely ruptured cranial cruciate ligament and a caudal ‘bucket handle’ tear to the medial meniscus.
“This required significant surgery to address and repair. The first challenge was to remove any damaged tissue or foreign objects from the knee. Our team carried out a partial meniscectomy (removal of damaged meniscus) and the residual cruciate ligament was debrided. The joint was then flushed out with bupivacaine.
“The cranial cruciate ligament instability was addressed with a surgical procedure called a Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO). This involves adjusting the tibial plateau (the surface on top of the shinbone) by cutting the bone with a surgical saw, rotating the cut portion, and securing it in its new position with a plate and screws. The process ensures that the femur rests properly on the top of the tibial plateau rather than sliding backwards and pushing the tibia forward. This prevents that sensation of the knee ‘giving way’ and should remove any lameness.
“In Moon’s case, a 28-degree cranial-based wedge was used, which was initially closed with a wire, and then stabilised with a medial 3.5mm compression plate with two screws proximal (central) and three distal (on the side). A cranial 2.7mm neutralisation plate was placed with one screw proximal and one distal. The wire was removed once the plate had been positioned and secured.”
Toby added that Moon’s surgery went very well and post operative X-rays had raised no concerns regarding the implant’s placement.
Moon was subsequently discharged home albeit under strict orders for total house rest with no running, jumping or climbing allowed. His exercise was initially restricted to just five minutes per day, only increasing gradually as his recovery improved.
Happily, he’s now back to his former self and has become another success story for our top team!
