TTO surgery??

[Attayba]

So my lil girl is booked in next wednesday for TTO (triple tibial osteotomy)surgery to her ligament in her back right leg...i have been looking on RDN & havent come across this in any posts - only TPLO, TTA, Tightrope, traditional etc I am doing research on the net but there isn't a lot of info on people experiences...just wondering if anyone has had this procedure done or heard anything about it?? Apparantly it started in New Zealand & has become quite popular in NZ & Aus...my vet said the specialist doing the procedure has a very good record & i totally trust my vet. Im not looking forward to more surgery & apparantly the left leg doesnt have too much longer left, so hopefully this procdure works out well for her - she so doesnt deserve this :(

[ajemons]

The information is out there !!
Way back in the mists of time when I was still clinging to the hope that Poppet's problem was her cruciate I researched this.
I will see if I still have any links for you later, but to short cut your search, 'google' Warrick Bruce. He's the orthopaedic surgeon who developed the method. He's the specialist who I took Poppet to see, and so while I was waiting for the appointment I checked out TTO, as I knew it was the method he used. He now works at the Pet Practice in Hamilton NZ.
It does seem to be a very good option, it seemed to have less problems associated with it than the TPLO.
If I find anything useful to you, I'll post later.
Good Luck Alison

[Attayba]

Thanks Alison...apprecitate it. From what i have quickly googled its a mix between TPLO & TTA...ill keep researching though, would like to read some success stories.

[ajemons]

Originally Posted by Attayba

Thanks Alisonill keep researching though, would like to read some success stories.

I'm sure you would
Unfortunately most things on the 'net are US based, and it's not common over there (if it's performed at all). I joined Orthodogs Yahoo Group (which is an excellent group btw), and even with their vaste knowledge nobody had heard of it.
I was using another computer at the time, so any info will be buried in there.
FWIW, I was very happy with it as an option. Unfortunately Poppet's problem is not curable, she's just born deformed
Alison

[Attayba]

Oh im sorry your Poppet has that problem...lucky she has a good mummy :) its amazing how you just learn to adjust to these issues - wouldnt life be boring with out them!!! im in the middle of reading The First 24hours with Lou...im only on page 15, its going to take a while but its nice reading it & it gives me a bit of insight what to expect & im nervous...at least i know sayba is a great patient, she is used to small leash walks & being locked up :( she prob did this on purpose just to get even more attention (if thats possible)...she is cheeky ;)

[ajemons]

Hell, without the dogs to spend my money on I'd probably be able to retire.
And who needs a wrinkle free complexion and NO grey hairs anyway !!!
Alison

[Attayba]

I had a very interesting wkend preparing for this wednesday...went out & bought a comfy foam mattress & a mink blanket (as the puppies are now sleeping in out bedroom :) hehe!!) Sayba is going to be stuck in the bedroom after her surgery until i go back to work & she is well enough to go back in her enclosure comfortably...they both LOVE their new bed, so cute!! Also purchased a ramp for the back stairs, which they both love & just sit on it...im happy they are both using it, was concerned that i would have difficulty with her wanting to use it but nope!!...also made her a sling which we practiced with on the weekend. She tends to try & take off on me but we still have a few more days of practice so im hoping she will get used to it...im feeling a bit better about things now that i am more prepared. I convinced my fiance that the ramp was an investment as it will help her with recovery & also we have just got a 4WD & instead of my fiance breaking his back getting the dogs in/out they can just use the ramp & now he doesnt have to take time off work when the dogs need to visit the vet i can do it myself...was quite $$$ but works really well & hey i made the sling :) so now im just waiting.

[ajemons]

Originally Posted by Attayba

I had a very interesting wkend preparing for this wednesday
so now im just waiting.

Good on you for getting her accustomed in advance, I'm sure it'll make recovery go far more smoothly and less stressful. Don't forget to keep us informed.
GOOD LUCK Alison

[DogMama]

I have to admit this was the first time I heard of this surgery. But I am in North America. I have done some detailed research into the TPLO and TTA surgeries a year ago when we were dealing with an ACL injury.

Prompted by this post I went to do some research into this new option, and my impression of it is very positive.

While I'm neither a surgeon nor a vet, I consider myself an educated owner and the TTO definitely looks to me like an improvement on the previous two options. It looks less invasive, safer and will lesser room for error or disaster to me.

[Attayba]

Thanks DogMama...anything that is less invasive & less room for error is good in my book :) ive had a look on youtube at some of the opperations..OH MY they look scary. ill keep you posted on her progress & post some piccys after her surgery.

[Attayba]

Dropped Suba duba Doo off at the vets this morning :( she was so excited unlike myself! they did have little baby kitten in a cage for sale & she just wanted it (me too - but fiance doesnt want a cat atm)...she was squeeling like a baby (she likes cats wasnt to eat it...hehe!!) she wont be coming home tonight which sadens me, im really going to miss her big noisy yawn at 5.15am & then the pitta patta of feet & the good morning muma lick. Maybe ill get to sleep in :) we get to pick her up first thing...will be having a few days off so will let you know how everything goes when im back...thanks for all your support :)

[Attayba]

ok, well I didnt think I wld be posting this early but im scared. She is in the middle of her procdure now, i had a phone call from my vet & specialist questioning their diagnosis!! WHAT THE...she was already out & about to go under the knife & the specialist has a feel around only to discover that her knee is within normal specs...so what the!!! specialist suggested she still go in & have a look as the xrays showed cruciate disease & was the best to find out what is wrong, so i agreed meanwhile loosing about 10 yrs off my life thinking ive put her all through this for nothing!! hour later get another call...the vet tells me the specialist & himself have never seen this before...her ligament isnt torn does have signs that it will tear but its deformed - OMG!! I asked what do u mean deformed like 2 heads or something & he said well yeh...her ligament is half normal, solid at one end & then at the other end splits in 2...i have no idea what to think. I asked them if it was their dog would they go ahead with this procedure & they both said YES! This will stop her ligament from tearing in the future but i just hope this will help & fix her...they both think that preventing the ligmament from totally tearing is best & I would agree but i just hope this is the only problem.

[Attayba]

She is out of surgery & waking up :) the specialist said its a very different situation because the ligament is actually tearing vertically rather than horizontally (never seen that before)...she said we have gotten to it nice & early so we should be good & preventing a tear is always a good idea...i paniced when they phoned me & told me they didnt know what was wrong with her, was so scared i put her all through this for nothing...my goodness ill be glad when today is over!!

[ajemons]

Do they have any idea if the other side may be the same ?
Give her my love.
Goodness.....!!!

[DogMama]

Wow, that sounds like quite an ordeal! My heart goes out to you.

Yes, you definitely don't want to put your dog through a lot of grief for nothing.

Clearly there was a reason why they arrived to the original diagnosis. So something was apparently not right. Preventing an ACL tear probably IS a good idea, because arthritis sets in very quickly.

The other thing is that once there is damage to the ACL, it is not very likely to go away. Jasmine had mild ACL injury when she was young, but our vet didn't catch that. Even though her lameness resolved (after a very long time), the ACL remained weak and went eventually anyway.

Sometimes 'going in' is the best answer anyway. Jasmine got diagnosed with her eosinophilic gastroenteritis only after an exploratory surgery.

Either way, it is over and the only direction from here is forward.

Hugs,
Jana