Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy TPLO

Traditional suture-based repairs place an artificial cord outside or inside the joint space, which can snap or loosen under extreme weight or high-energy activity. TPLO changes the underlying bone anatomy to create dynamic, biomechanical stability that naturally handles the high mechanical stresses produced by larger or highly athletic dogs during physical exertion.

Tibial thrust is the forward sliding motion of the tibia relative to the femur when a dog bears weight on its hind leg. The cranial cruciate ligament normally prevents this sliding. By cutting the bone and flattening the plateau angle, the joint slope becomes neutral, allowing the quadriceps and patellar tendon to naturally hold the joint stable without needing the missing ligament.

While internal bone plates and screws provide immediate structural support, true stability occurs only after the dog’s body grows new bone across the cut gap. Progressive diagnostic radiographs allow a veterinarian to monitor this natural bone fusion, verify that the bone plate hasn't shifted, and safely determine when a pet can gradually return to normal activity.

In the vast majority of cases, medical-grade metal implants are designed to stay in the animal for life without causing any problems or discomfort. Surgical removal is generally considered only in rare situations involving a localized tissue reaction, implant infection, or mechanical structural damage to the hardware itself before the bone fully fuses.