PetOrthopedic Surgery

We are proud to offer advanced orthopedic surgical procedures within our general veterinary practice for injuries, degenerative joint conditions, early-age hip intervention, as well as other issues that may be present in your animal’s musculoskeletal system. The most common cause of hind limb lameness in dogs is a torn cranial cruciate ligament (the dog’s equivalent of the human ACL), and we are proud to be able to provide the best surgical intervention for this condition, called a TPLO (short for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy). There are other surgical interventions for a small percentage of dogs with this condition that can be discussed at a consultation at Grace Animal Hospital.

We utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging to enhance our capabilities for orthopedic surgery, ensuring that your pet has access to the highest standard of veterinary medicine. Our surgical team is highly trained and experienced in orthopedic procedures, so you can rest assured that your pet is in good hands. We promise to communicate with you throughout the process and make your pet’s surgery as stress-free as possible.

Types of Orthopedic Surgery

Routine Surgeries

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
TPLO is a surgical procedure commonly performed to treat cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries in dogs. By altering the angle of the tibial plateau, TPLO stabilizes the knee joint and restores normal function, allowing pets to resume their normal activities without pain or discomfort.

Fabellotibial extracapsular stabilization
Solves instability issues in a pet’s knee joint by creating a suture that acts similarly to a CrCL ligament. Is a method of cranial cruciate ligament surgical stabilization for select cases, mostly less active, small breed dogs.

Medial Patellar Luxation (MPL) Repair
MPL is a condition in which the patella (kneecap) slips out of its normal position, causing lameness and discomfort. Surgical repair of MPL involves realigning the patella and stabilizing the joint to prevent further luxations and restore normal function.

Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis
An early and relatively non-invasive surgical intervention for canine hip dysplasia. In hip dysplasia, the “ball and socket” hip joint is loose, and the socket does not adequately cover the ball. This procedure alters the way the pelvis grows (is performed in dogs less than 16 weeks of age) so that there is increased acetabular coverage of the femoral head.

Femoral head and neck excision
A procedure that involves removing the ball of the hip ball-and-socket joint and allowing tissue to grow to replace the joint. Used to treat a variety of hip conditions; traumatic hip dislocations, femoral head and neck fractures, some pelvic fractures, end stage hip osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Case-by-case basis

Orthopedic Fractures
A bone fracture is a broken bone. Just as in humans, there are many causes of broken bones in dogs. All bones can break; however, some bones are more commonly broken than others in dogs. The humerus, radius, femur, and tibia are among the most commonly fractured bones in the dog. There are several different treatment methods for fracture repair.

Our veterinarians will work with you to determine the best possible treatment for your pet. We offer both surgical and non-surgical options depending on the severity and type of fracture.

Our surgical options consist of external fixation, bone plating, rods, pins, wires, and screws. Our non-surgical options include casting and splinting.

Angular limb deformity
A corrective procedure that involves cutting the bones at the point of maximum angulation or rotation, realigning them to their normal position, and stabilizing them with an external fixator or internal hardware such as plates and screws. Once the bone has healed, the fixator can be removed.

Bone biopsy and culture
Obtaining samples of bone to determine if there is an underlying infectious or possibly cancerous process associated with bone disease

Arthrocentesis for synovial fluid analysis
Obtaining samples of joint fluid to look for rare conditions such as autoimmune joint diseases, infectious joint diseases, and others.

Epidural management of lumbosacral stenosis
Staged steroid injections into the epidural space of the lower back in dogs with a condition known as lumbosacral stenosis to help alleviate pain and discomfort.