K-State veterinarian says special surgery usually best for dog's ligament tear

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Source: Dr. James Roush, 785-532-4134, roushjk@vet.k-state.edu
http://www.mediarelations.ksu.edu/WEB/News/MediaGuide/jroushbio.html
News release prepared by: Erica Snyder, 785-532-6415

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS SPECIAL SURGERY USUALLY BEST FOR DOG'S LIGAMENT TEAR

MANHATTAN -- Tearing a cruciate ligament in the knee is not just something humans can do. Man's best friend also can sustain the injury.

And, just like in humans, surgery may be the best option to repair the damage in dogs, according to a Kansas State University veterinary medicine professor.

Dr. James Roush, K-State professor of clinical sciences and a small animal orthopedic surgeon, said a tear in the cruciate ligaments in dogs is caused by arthritis or rigorous physical activity. The cruciate ligaments are in the hind knees of dogs and prevent the tibia -- the bone below the knee -- from sliding forward when bearing weight.

If a dog is older, overweight and already has problems with arthritis, the probability of tearing ligaments in both hind legs is higher, Roush said. On the other hand, if a younger dog is playing catch and lands improperly on a back leg, the chance of tearing the cruciate ligaments in both hind legs is less likely, he said.

When it comes to repairing the ligaments, Roush said one type of surgery stands out.

"There are about 40 described techniques for repairing cruciates that all work roughly the same, but tibial plateau leveling osteotomy is the gold standard," Roush said. "The purpose of the surgery is to ease a dog's arthritis and limit the advancement of arthritis, or to repair the ligament so the dog can return to its normal activity."

On average, six to eight tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgeries are performed weekly at K-State's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital -- and the surgery has a high success rate, Roush said.

"The results verify what practicing veterinary surgeons have been saying for years: The reason they are so in favor of this surgery is because they have less client complaints afterwards," he said.

"Once the ligament surgery is healed, it will stay that way. In other words, you won't have to redo it. This is different from other procedures."

Roush recommends the surgery particularly when the injured animal weighs more than 30 pounds and/or has an active lifestyle.

One sign that a dog may have torn a cruciate ligament is if it appears to have a lame hind leg. Roush says the dog should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If surgery is recommended, he said getting a second opinion, just as humans would do, is best.

When the surgery is performed at K-State, the dog will stay two days at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, going home the second night. The dog can be expected to put slight weight on the hind foot one day after the surgery. Some form of physical therapy also is recommended. At K-State, the recommended therapy is having the dog walk on the underwater treadmill. The bone should heal in about eight weeks, Roush said.