Synthes TPLO. Improving animal care.

Your Dog’s Anatomy Femur (thigh bone) Patella (knee cap) Tibial plateau Tibia (shin bone) A new quality of life for your pet. A second chance at running and playing. Freedom

All About the Cranial Cruciate Ligament When the cranial cruciate ligament tears, the dog usually is not able to bear full weight on the leg, and may carry the leg. The tibia (shin bone) will move forward in relationship to the femur (thigh bone) while walking. During examination of the joint, this looseness is referred to by your doctor as the “cranial drawer sign.”

All About the Cranial Cruciate Ligament What happens with cranial cruciate ligament tears? – Subtle lameness to complete non-weight-bearing lameness – Can be acute or chronic – Sitting with hind legs out to the side – Clicking or popping of the knee can be heard in some cases Diagnosis – Orthopaedic examination to check for discomfort and instability on stifle manipulation – Cranial drawer test – Cranial tibial thrust test – Diagnostic imagery can be used – Range of motion

TPLO stands for Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy and is a surgical procedure that makes a change to the biomechanics of the knee to eliminate pain and instability caused by cranial cruciate ligament rupture. TPLO was developed 25 years ago and is one of the most performed orthopedic procedures in the dog worldwide. During surgery, a curved cut will be made near the top of the tibia (shin bone). The top of the bone is then rotated to eliminate the slope on the top of the tibia (this is where the “leveling” comes from). A plate is applied to hold the tibia in this position while the bone heals....

Fixed-angle construct The threads on the head of the locking screw mate with the threads in the plate hole to form a rigid, fixed-angle construct. This construct provides higher stability and allows your dog to bear full weight on his hind leg shortly after surgery. Unlike traditional (nonlocking) fixation systems, the fixed-angle construct does not rely on friction between the plate and the bone to maintain its integrity. Less friction between the construct and the bone is intended to preserve blood supply and promote faster healing. The Synthes TPLO plate combines technical innovations with...

Anatomically precontoured plate The plate is precontoured to the anatomy of the top of the tibia (shin bone) of the dog. This prevents any need to bend the plate, which could decrease operating time. The angulation of the screws is predefined to increase the procedure's safety. You want only the best for your pet. TPLO Synthes

Synthes and the AO Foundation cooperate in a close partnership. AO stands for “Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthese” (Association for the Study of Osteosynthesis). In the surgical community, this non-profit, surgeon-guided organization is seen as a pioneer in terms of research, development, clinical investigation and education in the treatment of fractures. Synthes develops, produces and markets products that have been reviewed and approved by the clinically independent ”Technical Commission” of the AO Foundation. Because of this careful scrutiny of all new instruments and implants, surgeons...