Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy

Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, usually abbreviated TPLO, is a surgery performed on dogs to stabilize the stifle, or knee, joint after rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament, the canine equivalent of the human anterior cruciate ligament. Most ruptures in dogs result from gradual degeneration of the ligament rather than a single injury, and certain breeds, including Labradors, Rottweilers, Boxers, West Highland White Terriers and Newfoundlands, are known to be predisposed. During the operation the surgeon cuts and repositions the tibial plateau to bring its angle to roughly five degrees from horizontal, which stops the femur sliding backward relative to the tibia when the dog bears weight. More than ninety percent of dogs are expected to return to a very active lifestyle afterward with no long-term need for pain medication.