[ranchoevans]

My 5 year old female boxer has been diagnosed with a torn or ruptured CCL I need to choose from these two surgeries: Extracapsular Stabilization Method, or, Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteolomy (TPLO).

This is to her right hind knee.

Any advice regarding these surgeries would be great.

Thanks

[Daveyo]

Greetings. May I suggest you read up on the following links. It provides you some answers to your questions. Actually there is no full proof way to have complete repair and the issues are ongoing as to what is the best method.

You need to have an MRI done on the dog besides an X-ray to determine just exactly what got damaged. From there you can determine the best method of treatment. Both methods are OK but the second one is lesser chance of arthritis. That is about the only plus that it has over the other one.

Here are the links for you.

Extracapsular Stabilization Method

http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ivapm/professionals/members/current_articles/budsberg.htm
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04302003-201619/
http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/5/988

Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteolomy (TPLO).

http://vetsurgerycentral.com/tplo.htm
http://www.fvarc.com/PAGES/ARTICLES/images/fall-2004.pdf

[ranchoevans]

Thank you for the useful information. I am going to try rest, supplements, Rimydal and weight loss for the next month to see if she improves. She has a noticeable limb put still uses the leg. For the last two months she has been playing hard with my new dog. I think all that rough play either caused or exacerbated the injury. She is now kenneled separately from the other dog.

Thanks again

[Daveyo]

That will not solve the problem but its your dog. Up to you. Good luck.