TTA Success

When your animal is facing orthopedic surgery it’s good to know that the latest techniques are available here at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. Chino is the 132nd dog in the world to have his knee trouble corrected with tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA).

A model of a tibial tuberosity advancement. The surgery to correct a ruptured cruciate ligament is the latest advancement in canine orthopedic surgery, and is a less invasive alternative to the traditional TPLO.

TTA was developed by Dr. Slobodan Tepic of Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Tepic is well known in medicine for developing the Zurich Cementless Total Hip Replacement, the state-of-the-art in canine hip replacement surgery. This procedure is also used for hip replacement in humans. In 2003 Dr. Tepic selected Alameda East Veterinary Hospital as one of the first hospitals in the US to be trained on the TTA procedure. Since then we have performed the surgery hundreds of times, and assist in training surgeons around the country in this procedure.

Chino, a rescued Labrador Retriever, has become a beneficiary of this procedure, a less invasive alternative to TPLO. He had been lame for most of his three years of life. Both of Chino’s knees had suffered the ravages of cruciate disease and he had been sedentary for so long that his hind quarters had withered to a fraction of normal size.

Chino sailed through surgery with our board certified surgeons who were instructed by Dr. Tepic himself. Within three days, Chino was fully weight-bearing on his leg for the first time in years. In three weeks (see radiograph) he was virtually healed. At five months post-op, Chino leads a normal, active life. His gregarious personality bubbled to the surface after his pain was alleviated. He has been adopted and the owners are thrilled with the results.

Post-surgical radiograph showing implant.

3 weeks later, showing bone regrowth at implant site.

Chino’s cruciate troubles were bilateral. Chino’s owners have requested that the second knee also be corrected with TTA. Chino has done so remarkably well that his full strength and muscle tone have returned (Chino also did rehabilitation work, included in the surgical package). And the incredible result is that Chino is able to delay his second surgery indefinitely.

AEVH surgeons scrub for surgery with Dr. Slobodon Tepic, who developed the TTA procedure. Dr. Tepic has an international reputation in canine orthopedics.	Our board certifed surgeons perform the TTA with Dr. Tepic, developer of the procedure, on Chino.
In 2006, after three years with his "new knee" Chino continues to exhibit all the fun-loving and playful characteristics of a happy Labrador, and surgery for the other knee is still not indicated.	Chino, post-op. Three days later he was weight-bearing for the first time in over a year.