Canine Cruciate Repair
Fixed price of £2,200
We are very pleased to be able to offer a procedure known as The Modified Maquet Procedure (MMP) to help treat cruciate ligament injuries.
Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) failure/injury is a common cause of hindlimb lameness in dogs. A torn CCL results in pain, lameness, low energy, and arthritis. Partial and complete tears of the CCL can affect dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds.
On rare occasions some small dogs can improve with appropriate pain relief and physiotherapy. However, the majority of dogs will require surgery in order to help them return to their normal activity levels and comfort. There are several available surgeries commonly used to treat cruciate disease in dogs and not all dogs are suitable for all methods. Each case is assessed on its own merit and the appropriate correction method will be discussed with you.
If you're a dog owner and you'd like to know more about this technique, read on as we will be discussing how MMP surgery works and the healing time.
When are cruciate procedures necessary?
MMP surgery is a knee reconstruction surgery for dogs. It changes the knee shape and its mechanics which leads to stability of the joint and relief of the pain caused by CCL tears. Dogs have two CCLs, one in the knee of each hind leg and MMP surgery can treat these injuries, in addition to pain and immobility. It can also help prevent crippling arthritis if operated on early in the disease process.
How does a CCL tear happen?
In humans, a torn ACL usually occurs with a sudden trauma from a misstep, jump, or other twisting motion. A cranial cruciate ligament tear in dogs is a gradual injury. It might begin with a sudden jump to action, for example, if your dog is lying in the grass and jumps up to chase a bird or ball.
The tear will progressively get worse over time, resulting in pain and lameness. If your dog is displaying any of the following symptoms, they might have a torn their CCL:
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Limping
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Pain
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Lameness in the hind legs
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Gait changes (Walking differently to normal)
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Use of one hind leg only
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Toe touching when walking
Without attention, a torn CCL can result in arthritis and poor joint health in the future.
Image 1.
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Image 2.
Images 1 and 2 show how a porous alloy wedge is placed within bone and held in place with pin.
What is MMP cruciate surgery in dogs?
MMP surgery, or the Modified Maquet Procedure for dogs, is an incredibly effective surgery with a quick recovery time as compared to other procedures. MMP surgery is named for Dr Maquet, who based the procedure on orthopaedic surgery for humans.
MMP surgery takes the pressure off the injured CCL by redirecting impact to the quadriceps muscle. This is done by changing the angle of the tibia (on the lower half of the leg) and moving it forward to the patellar tendon.
To be more specific, a wedge is placed within the bone and held in place with one pin. The wedge is made of a porous alloy, allowing bone to grow through it. Then, the patellar tendon can take over and act as the CCL.
MMP vs. TPLO
MMP surgery for dogs is far less invasive than a TPLO. It is less expensive, takes less time to perform, and the recovery time is usually faster.
Both the TPLO and MMP are effective procedures and depending on the breed, size, and age of your dog, we will recommend which procedure is more suitable.
However, we do not currently offer TPLO surgery here at Kruger Veterinary Group.
MMP recovery time
A quick recovery time is very important when it comes to dogs. Dogs don't understand why they're injured, or how to take care of an injury, they just know something hurts. So, the less time they have to spend in pain, the better. TPLO usually has a recovery time of ten to twelve weeks, while MMP recovery time is significantly shorter.
Allow your dog proper time to rest, and limit physical activity. Your dog should not have access to stairs and should be kept from running and jumping. Make sure to keep your dog on a leash for six weeks after surgery to make sure that they don't re-injure their knee with unexpected movements.
The healing process after MMP surgery
Within two days, your dog will start putting some weight on their leg while on restricted walking.
Two weeks after the surgery can take your dog for slow walks of restricted 5-10 minutes periodically throughout the day.
After three or four weeks, you'll be able to gradually increase activity.
After five to six weeks, your vet will take an x-ray to make sure everything is healing according to plan. Now you can walk your dog up to 30 minutes, and let them off leash for about five minutes as long as there are no other dogs or
distractions.
Twelve weeks after surgery, your dog should be able to resume pre-injury activity levels. Prognosis after cruciate ligament surgery for dogs MMP is usually only associated with minor complications like bruising and swelling that go away on their own. Most dogs, up to 75%, return to normal within a few months. As with all surgical procedures, complications can occur, so best practice is to follow the post operation guidelines that are provided.
Unfortunately, after tearing one CCL approximately one-third of dogs will tear the other side. This might mean your dog will need the procedure on the other side. However, MMP is still regarded as an effective solution for CCL failure and can
prevent arthritis down the line. It's a great option to keep your dog healthy and active in the long term.
For more information on Canine Cruciate Repair or to book an appointment please call the surgery on 01633 848450.
Please note: New clients and referral cases are subject to an initial consult charge.
Insurance
We are able to process direct claims for cruciate work carried on your pet only after a pre authorisation. We do charge an insurance processing fee with all claims.