Cruciate Injury FAQs

The cruciate ligament, also called the ACL, is a crucial structure within the knee joint that provides stability. When strained, it causes pain and swelling; when torn, the knee becomes unstable, leading to significant lameness and discomfort. This type of injury often requires surgical intervention, like TPLO, to restore stability and prevent long-term damage.

Cruciate injuries can present as sudden lameness or chronic knee pain in a back leg. Your vet will palpate the back leg, focusing on the knee joint (or stifle) to detect pain or swelling. A thorough examination often includes a general anaesthetic and x-rays, which help identify changes like joint effusion and confirm the diagnosis.

If the knee shows pain without instability, it may be diagnosed as a cruciate strain. Treatment often starts with rest and anti-inflammatories, but ongoing strains can lead to arthritis. In these cases, surgery may be recommended to prevent further degeneration, even if there is no current instability.

A torn cruciate ligament makes the knee unstable and initiates an arthritic process in the joint. Surgery is typically the best treatment for a torn cruciate ligament. At Pittwater Animal Hospital, Dr. Jill King has a special interest in cruciate disease management and can guide you through the treatment and management options for your pet’s injury.

At Pittwater Animal Hospital, we offer comprehensive TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery, performed by specialist surgeon Dr. Eugene Buffa. This advanced procedure reshapes the tibia to stabilize the knee, and it is an excellent option for managing ACL and cruciate injuries. Our TPLO surgery is offered as a fixed-price package, which includes:

• Pre-anaesthetic blood tests to assess general health and safety for surgery
• Anaesthesia and surgical procedure
• IV fluids, pain relief, and pre and post surgery antibiotics
• In-hospital care, Cartrophen injection course, and suture removal
• Pre- and post-surgery x-rays on the day of surgery, plus a follow-up x-ray at 6 weeks to ensure proper healing.
• All standard rechecks at PAH

Dr. Jill King can discuss the procedure and help you decide if TPLO surgery is right for your dog.

Surgery is costly but is by far the most effective way of reducing lameness and pain for dogs with cruciate ligament injuries. Following surgery, there is a 6-week period where your dog must be kept very quiet to allow for healing, which can be challenging. The vets at PAH are here to guide you with advice and will prescribe medication to help keep your dog calm. Like all complex surgeries, TPLO carries some risk of complications, but our highly experienced team of vets and vet nurses work to minimize these risks.

Without surgery, the unstable knee joint after an ACL injury often leads to chronic pain and inflammation. Many dogs may learn to live with the damaged knee, but frequently reinjure it during exercise. An injured knee also places extra strain on the other knee, increasing the risk of ACL tears in the remaining healthy joint.

Not all torn cruciate ligaments cause extreme pain, but an unstable knee often leads to joint wear and arthritis. Severe pain may indicate damage to the meniscus, a structure within the knee. Meniscal tears are addressed during surgery, relieving discomfort similar to having a sharp object in the knee joint.

If surgery isn’t an option due to financial or health concerns, we can create a protective management plan. All our veterinarians can help manage the injured knee and discuss ways to protect the other knee, as dogs with one cruciate injury often develop issues in the other.

Please book an appointment with Dr. Jill King to discuss your individual dog’s problem. In this appointment, they will go through all the possible treatment options and tailor a plan that is best for you and your pet.