Expert Cruciate Ligament Repair

The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is a key stabilizing structure in your dog’s knee joint. Think of it like the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. When a CCL tears or ruptures, it causes instability, pain, and difficulty moving—just as an ACL injury would in a person.

Common signs of a CCL injury in dogs include:

  • Limping or favoring one hind leg

  • Stiffness after rest or play

  • Swelling in the knee area

  • Reluctance to jump, run, or climb stairs

Left untreated, a CCL injury can lead to progressive joint damage, including arthritis and meniscal tears.

While rest and weight management may help with mild cases, a torn CCL typically requires surgical intervention for long-term relief. Surgery restores stability to the joint, reduces pain, and helps your dog regain their mobility and quality of life.

Why Surgery Is Often the Best Solution

The most common techniques for repairing CCLs are TPLO and Lateral Suture Repair

TPLO

TPLO is a specialized procedure designed to stabilize the knee joint in dogs with CCL ruptures.

The surgeon carefully adjusts the top part of the tibia (the shin bone) by cutting and rotating it to make it almost flat. This change helps stop the thigh bone from sliding around when your dog puts weight on their leg, keeping the knee stable and secure.

Lateral Suture Repair

A strong, single-thread suture is placed outside the knee joint to take over the job of the damaged ACL. The surgeon makes a small hole in the front of the shin bone, loops the suture around a tiny bone at the back of the thigh bone, threads it through the hole, and secures it to keep the knee stable.

TPLO

Invasive

 Requires cutting and repositioning bone.

Prolonged Recovery

Patients usually take 8 - 12 weeks to fully recover

Lateral Suture Repair

Cost-Effective

More affordable than TPLO. 

Less Invasive

Does not involve cutting bone. 

At Nova Pets, we guarantee our lateral suture procedure. If the suture fails for any reason, we will provide the necessary repair at no additional cost

Why Choose Nova Pets?

At Nova Pets Health Center, we take a holistic approach to cruciate repair and recovery, treating your pet like family.

What sets us apart:

  • Expertise You Can Trust: Our skilled veterinary surgeon has many years of experience in advanced orthopedic procedures like TPLO.

  • Customized Care: We tailor every aspect of treatment and recovery to your dog’s specific needs.

  • Regular Check-Ins: We make sure to follow up and track your pet’s progress to make sure their recovery is on track.Follow-up visits to monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed.

3935 Avion Park Ct Suite A102

Chantilly, VA , 20151

Hours

  • Mon-Fri:

    • Office Hours: 9 am - 3 pm

    • Vet Hours: 9 am - 1 pm

  • Sat: All Hours 9 am - 12 pm - Boarding Pickup at 6:30 pm

  • Sun: Office Closed - Boarding Pickup at 6:30 pm