Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery
animal types
companionUsing state-of-the-art orthopedic techniques and technology, we surgically treat injury and disease of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons of the body. Our team of vet orthopedic surgeons aims to enhance the quality of life of pets and their owners by easing pain, restoring function and stability, and improving range of motion.
We partner with the hospital’s orthopedic medicine and mobility service to develop the best treatment plan for your pet. Learn more about non-surgical and rehabilitative options for musculoskeletal issues.
Conditions we treat
Bone fractures
Trauma is the most common cause of bone fractures, and most require surgery because dogs and cats walk on all four limbs.
Cranial cruciate ligament tear
Similar to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in humans, tearing, stretching, or degeneration causes discomfort in the knee joint due to instability, abnormal movement, and inflammation.
Elbow dysplasia
An abnormal development of the elbow joint that results in lameness and discomfort.
Hip dysplasia
An abnormal development of the ball-in-socket structure of the hip joint. It begins as an excessive “looseness” in the joint that causes pain as the surrounding muscles and tissues are stretched, and progresses to an arthritic condition.
Patellar luxation
Also called “dislocating knee cap” because the patella moves out of its normal location. In most early cases, a pet will suddenly yelp and lift its leg off the ground for a short period of time, followed by a return to relatively normal limb use as the patella returns to its normal position. These episodes of sudden lameness often increase in frequency over time, and the patella may remain dislocated as the condition becomes more advanced.
Services
Bone fracture stabilization
Involves the use of minimally invasive techniques to treat bone fractures.
Cruciate ligament tear treatment
- Joint evaluation (arthroscopy or arthrotomy)
- Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
- Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA)
- Extracapsular suture stabilization (ex-cap suture)
Elbow dysplasia treatment
- Arthroscopic fragment excision
- Subtotal coronoid ostectomy (SCO)
- Biceps ulnar release procedure (BURP)
Hip dysplasia treatment
For immature hip dysplasia (hip-laxity stage)
- Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS)
- Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO)
- Double pelvis osteotomy (DPO)
For mature/adult hip dysplasia (osteoarthritis stage)
- Total hip replacement (THR)
- Femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO)
Patellar luxation treatment
- Wedge and block trochleoplasty
- Tibial crest transposition
- Soft tissue imbrication/release
- Corrective femoral osteotomy
Specialized technology
We partner with the hospital’s diagnostic imaging service to provide advanced imaging technologies and services to our clients.
A dedicated member of the anesthesia and pain management service will be assigned exclusively to the task of closely monitoring your animal’s vitals and potential side effects during any procedure requiring pain management, sedation, or anesthesia.
Arthroscopic surgery
With a small (<3mm) fiberoptic tube called an arthroscope, we can examine, diagnose, and treat damage inside of a joint. Used for a variety of conditions affecting the elbow, shoulder, knee, and hip joints, this minimally-invasive procedure avoids the need to open a joint up with a traditional surgical incision.
High-quality orthopedic implants
Not all surgical implants are created equally. We use high-quality implants to help us delivery high-quality results.
Intraoperative imaging (fluoroscopy)
Using a C-arm X-ray imaging system, we are able to treat bone fractures with minimally invasive techniques, promoting faster return of comfortable limb function for our patients.
Rehearsal surgery
Using life-size, 3-D skeletal models of a patient, we can plan and perform rehearsal procedures prior to conducting the actual procedure on the patient, resulting in less time in surgery, more surgical precision, and improved patient outcomes.