Why do patients need Rehabilitation after TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) surgery? The stifle is stable! The TPLO has become a common procedure to restore mechanical stability to cruciate-deficient stifles. BUT, the TPLO does not address all the common sequelae that develop as a result of cruciate disease:
- Decreased range of motion (ROM) of the stifle and hock
- Loss of muscle mass and coordination which translates to limited dynamic stability, the ability to control movement during activity and protect the knee from injury
- Alterations in posture and gait that have developed in response to the instability and pain that was present pre-operatively.
Quicker recovery of the surgical leg also reduces stress on the other leg. The days of crate rest followed by leash walks are gone! Our Rehabilitation team offers many tools to maximize each patient’s recovery and restore function. Our Physical Therapist, Nancy Doyle MPT, has assisted over a thousand patients with their recoveries from TPLO surgery for 20+ years so has the knowledge and expertise to safely and effectively optimize patients’ recoveries. Contact us for more details on integration of Rehabilitation in your pet’s post-operative plan.
