Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic surgery focuses on the treatment or repair of fractures, deformities, and muscle and bone diseases in cats and dogs.
Orthopaedic Surgery Services
The following veterinary orthopaedic surgery services are available at VETMED:
- Arthroscopy
- Cranial cruciate ligament repair via:
- Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) with locking plates* OR
- Lateral suture stabilization
- Angular limb deformity correction
- Minimally invasive fracture repair via external skeletal fixation
- Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS)
- Joint arthrodesis
- Femoral head and neck excision (FHNE or FHO)
- Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO)
- Medial patellar luxation repair
- Coxofemoral (Hip) luxation repair
*For more information on TPLO with locking plates, please visit http://www.tploanswers.com.
What to Expect During Orthopaedic Surgery
For all non-emergency orthopaedic surgery cases at VETMED, the client is first seen by the surgeon to discuss the patient’s condition, the procedure to be performed, possible complications, expected recovery and prognosis.
Each orthopaedic surgery patient and procedure is unique. In most cases, patients will need to fast for a minimum of 8 hours prior to admission, which is usually 8 a.m. on day of scheduled surgery. When the orthopaedic surgery patient arrives, a physical examination will be performed along with any necessary blood work and radiographs. The client will typically receive a telephone call at the start of surgery and upon recovery of the patient.
The patient will be hospitalized overnight (at minimum) for pain management and monitoring. Keeping the orthopaedic surgery patient calm, with minimal anxiety, is important to their recovery. Visits post-operatively may be arranged during business hours.
For most procedures, orthopaedic surgery patients can go home the day after surgery, however, that is determined on a day-to-day basis, based on the condition of the patient.
Veterinarian Performing Orthopaedic Surgery
Dr. Stephanie Foote is a board-certified surgeon and the primary veterinarian performing orthopaedic surgery at VETMED. To learn more about what it takes to become a board-certified surgeon, please visit the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Orthopaedic Surgery Consultation
If you think your pet may need specialized surgery, please call VETMED today to schedule an appointment.