VPN Plus+ ExclusiveThe ABCs behind the challenges of TPLOJuly 19, 2023Ask any small animal veterinarians what they consider the "gold standard" approach for cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs, and you will most likely hear, the "TPLO."1-7 From veterinary school forward, we hear from surgeons that the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) delivers a more rapid recovery and return to normal function, even when compared to other surgical techniques such as the tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) and the triple tibial osteotomy (TTO).8 In contrast to other procedures, the TPLO supposedly causes fewer complications, less meniscal injury, and slower progression of osteoarthritis. For those who are unfamiliar with this procedure and its history, the TPLO is a traumatic procedure, involving severing the tibia, changing the angle of the tibial plateau, and then plating the two parts of the tibia back together. By altering the dog's anatomy, the veterinarian hopes to stop the proximal tibia from thrusting forward during weightbearing and locomotion for canine patients whose cranial cruciate ligament has failed.9 Proponents claim this "restores normal limb function," but this is an impossible claim to defend.10 Altering structural conformation does not and cannot restore "normal" function for that dog, breed, or species. Moreover, one year after …
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Canine post-TPLO muscle loss eased with supplementApril 20, 2020New research out of Kansas State University (KState) College of Veterinary Medicine suggests a bioactive composition designed to build lean muscle could benefit dogs that have undergone a common orthopedic surgery.
Improve Int'l continuing education course focuses on TPLOMay 1, 2018Global continuing education provider Improve International recently hosted its first U.S. course at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida, with 13 veterinarians in attendance. Led by Brian Beale, DVM, DACVS, and Stanley Kim, BVSc, MS, both diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, the course, which focused on the use of the tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy (TPLO) for cruciate repair, was comprised of both in-class lectures and hands-on, practical sessions. "We were delighted to welcome delegates to our first U.S. course and to have received enthusiastic feedback," said John Douglass, assistant managing director, Improve. "It was an important milestone for us as we celebrate our arrival in the U.S. and our 20th year in business. We look forward to bringing more of our premium CE to U.S. veterinarians in the coming years." Founded in 1998 by a team of veterinarians in the U.K., Improve announced its U.S. launch late last year, offering a range of short RACE-approved courses for veterinary professionals. The company, who has instructed more than 20,000 veterinarians across 20 countries, will soon offer more in-depth, annual courses in the U.S., which will help practitioners …
