Went in for ccl surgery came out with out repairs?

[jboutin]

I just picked up my boy Trooper from the orthopedic vets where he was to undergo ccl repair. When he got out I spoke with the surgeon who, during the evaluation said that he needed to remove the torn ligament and suture up the joints with some sort of stabilizing "bands" that will replace the torn ccl, said that the ligament was completely torn so he removed it, trimmed the menisci and sewed him back up! He told me that my boy didnt need the full procedure because he had scarring tissue that was holding the joint in place! If that was the case why did he even need to have this done? If anybody knows or has experienced this please set my mind at ease. Do they even need this ligament? If so why didnt he replace it? If not, why was Trooper limping all the time? I am just really frustrated right now and I am having very guily second thoughts about having put my little boy through all this if for nothing. He is so sore and disoriented:( Thanks all.
Jeremy

 

[DarlingBri]

He needed to have it done because with all the xrays in the world, without an MRI it's very difficult to get a clear picture of the situation without opening the dog and looking at the joint.

In humans, who have only two legs, replacement of the CCL/ACL is almost always the only option if the ligament is torn right through. I've had this surgery and it SUCKS to recover from. There are bone saws, plates, and screws involved, for humans as well as dogs. For proper recovery, post-surgical thearputic exercise is also required, or the dog has a 50% chance of rupturing the other side, too. It is MAJOR surgery with a long and slow recovery.

A surgeon will almost always opt NOT to replace the ligament if the joint seems stable enough without it once he or she goes in. Scar tissue can indeed provide stability if it's growing in the correct place, and that's just good luck. In any case, the meniscus normally needs to be trimmed back or removed, and that can only be done surgically.

Your surgeon was very likely not at all negligent, but following one of several normal courses of treatment, ranging from "do nothing" to a full scale TPLO surgery. Watch for arthritis in the joint, and general stability of movement as your dog recovers.

 

[jboutin]

Thanks for the response. His other knee is already torn:( Both have been torn so I am supposed to return after this one heals. I will have to see how this goes before I will put him through this again:( He already has moderate arthritis also. Poor thing, hes only 4. Thanks again for your response.

 

[msjosi]

While I don't think your surgeon was negligent, I would question why an orthopedic would suggest the traditional repair on a boxer with a fully torn ccl. Generally vets will only perform the traditional repair on dogs under 30-40lbs. and a TPLO on dogs larger b/c a dog of heavy weight has a likelihood to re-tear the leg. The TPLO method avoids this completely by doing away with the entire ligament so this is never a complication again. I would also question the fact that if the surgeon claimed it was "completely" torn then no scar tissue would be able to hold anything in place. If the ligament is only partially torn, that is when scar tissue can sometimes hold it in place, but eventually it will still probably tear and will definitely cause arthritis. I don't mean to alarm you, but I am just giving you my opinion based on the extensive research I have done on this injury since my Josi has had both legs TPLOed. I hope Trooper has an uneventful recovery and you may want to think about getting a second opinion in the meantime. Josi and I both send him lots of "get well wishes"

 

[jboutin]

Thanks for responding with your kind words. I do have a call into my vet (who is not an orthopedic) and I will ask him all my questions also. Well you understand my concern at least. I have a mind to call back the surgeon and re-explain why he did not do what I was expecting. Thanks

 

[SILLY6PAK]

I would be disappointed as well. Maybe when you talk to the Dr. again he can explain his disicions better. I would be frustrated to put your boy through all this for a inferior method of fixing the problem.

 

[jboutin]

I am very dissapointed. I did call the surgeon back and demanded an explanation for why he did not do the full procedure and what if any progress this will make. Basically he explained again, that there was enough scar tissue holding everything in place so putting the sutures in would have done no good. He said that he would have to be hit by a car or something to separate the knee. So basically I feel like I made a huge mistake:( Only time will tell I guess. Maybe with some sort of good fortune he will heal good from this limited procedure and it will actually have been worth it in the long run. I can only hope. By the way, now the Dr. says he does not recommend (now that he has been in one side) doing the other. Awful funny huh?

 

[Kathie11]

you may want to think about getting a second opinion in the meantime

I completely agree and I would make an appointment with a specilist not a regular vet. When Louie had his TPLO surgery the surgeon went over other options but she said for a dog his size and the activity levels of boxers she wouldn't recommand anything but TPLO.