Skip to content
Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA Surgery)
* Vet Playas is the only recognized hospital in the Tijuana area to offer TTA Surgery *
 
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease

Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL/ACL) Injuries: dog knee.jpg

Inside the knee there are two ligaments that control relative movement between the femur and the tibia. They cross each other and thus are called the cruciate ligaments. One is called the caudal cruciate ligament. The other is called the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). In humans this is called the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). In both species, the latter (CCL/ACL) is prone to partial and full rupture. After partial and/or full rupture of the CCL the excessive motion and strain between the femur and the tibia leads to pain, cartilage damage, and eventual arthritis.

Signs of a Torn Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL):

A torn CCL in dogs may seem to come on suddenly, but in most cases the ligament has been weakening for months. Once limping is observed, pet parents tend to notice a pattern of chronic intermittent lameness lasting for 48 to 72 hours. The limping can be severe or mild.

Here are additional signs that your dog might have a torn Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL):

  • Mild to severe weakening of the thigh muscles in the affected limb
  • Thickening of the bony part of the affected knee
  • A decreased range of motion in the affected knee
  • An asymmetric sitting posture in which the lower part of the limb is angled away from the body
Some of these signs can be very subtle to nonexistent. Overt pain is not a common sign of a torn CCL. While the knee may be uncomfortable to move, lameness may be due to instability rather than discomfort.

TTA Surgery Recovery and Rehabilitation:

While every case is unique, most of the patients that undergo TTA Surgery here at Vet Playas Veterinary Hospital are able to walk out of the hospital the same day of surgery. A limp will still be present, but the vast majority are at least toe touching. At time of your pet’s discharge from Vet Playas Veterinary Hospital, we supply you with detailed TTA Surgery recovery and rehabilitation instructions. If at any point during the post-operative recovery and rehabilitation process you have any questions or concerns, we will be available to you. We are very responsive to all of our clients, and motivated to resolve any concerns you have regarding your pet’s recovery, as we are fully aware that great outcomes have everything to do with attentive follow-up. 

** Included in the price of TTA Surgery is post-surgery care. The staples or stitches to be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery and a 1 month follow up examination with X-Ray(s).

 
Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) vs Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) 
As per the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). “The decision between TTA and TPLO is based purely on the opinion of your surgeon and their personal technical experience. To date, no published data supports one technique being superior to the other.” Here at Vet Playas Veterinary Hospital, we offer TTA Surgery because it has been shown that the patient has a quicker return to function and recovery time is shorter.   
https://jsfiddle.net/t4afsg20/