Our hospital offers a wide range of orthopedic surgery services to cope with a wide range of injuries and conditions. In the case of a broken leg, for example, our surgeons can perform such procedures as bone plating, pinning and/or wiring to successfully mend the fractured bones. On the other hand, if your pet experiences a knee ligament injury, procedures such as a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) or extracapsular repair may be recommended. Dislocated knee caps may sometimes require surgery to minimize pain and improve your pet's quality of life. If there is a problem inside a joint, surgeons may recommend minimally invasive arthroscopy to remove the source of your pet's pain. In any case, be assured that our orthopedic surgical team will do their best to achieve the best outcome possible for your pet. Please call us for more information about our hospital's comprehensive orthopedic services.
How many veterinarians perform the TTA surgery?
Worldwide, there are 400 surgeons that perform this specialized surgery.
How many TTA surgeries have been performed at this time?
To date, there have been approximately 50,000 TTA procedures performed worldwide.
Does my pet have to spend the night in the hospital?
Yes. They will be admitted for 2-3 days and released when the doctor feels it’s appropriate.
Will this have a negative effect on the opposite leg?
No. Both of the current ACL repair techniques (TTA and TPLO) provide the best possible outcome with no negative affect on the opposite leg.
Will the opposite knee have the same problem?
Forty percent of all dogs with ACL rupture on one side will have the problem on the opposite side. The most effective ways to decrease this percentage are early surgical repair to allow for even weight distribution and weight loss in obese dogs.
Is TTA only for large dogs?
No. Small breed dogs also have an excellent outcome following TTA.
Is the postoperative period more difficult following TTA than following older techniques?
Absolutely not. Because the TTA involves an osteotomy in a non-weight bearing portion of the bone, patients are very comfortable and recover more quickly than with all older techniques including TPLO.
Will my pet experience pain in the postoperative period?
Minimal. All dogs undergoing TTA here are given a morphine epidural. Most clients feel their pet’s discomfort level is quite tolerable.
How long does it take for healing?
The osteotomy takes 6 – 8 weeks to heal. During this time your pet can have a reasonable amount of leash activity.
Dr. Freedman has been doing knee surgery for over 25 years. The TTA procedure was developed about 14 years ago, and for the past 10 years, Dr. Freedman has done over 800 cases. Owners have come from Florida, Illinois, Baltimore and Va Beach to have Dr. Freedman operate on their dogs’ knees. The success rate has been above 95%. Dr Freedman has been invited to train other veterinarians in the procedure as well, and was invited to the join the first Masters meeting that Kyon, the company that developed the TTA procedure, held in Boston in 2011.
Keep in mind, each pet’s rehab treatment plan will not be the same. Dr. Freedman will determine what is needed and for how long, for each pet. Every pet is different and may react in a different way to each surgery and exercise plan.
