My cat has a torn ACL in his knee. What's involved with surgery?

Question

Winky boy has a torn aclu(?) Not sure if that's the right thing, in his knee. He got a cortisone shot, and I was wondering what all is involved if he needs surgery. Our vet wanted to see if the shot and rest helps first. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 10 years and 5 months old | 13.5 lbs

Rodrigo Roca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, sorry to hear about your cat. The ACL or CCL (interchangeable) is a ligament in the knee that prevents the lower leg from sliding forward. Unlike humans, there isn't a direct replacement of this ligament in dogs or cats. There are several surgeries to address a torn ACL however, and it involves putting an implant (a plate or a high load resistant suture). If using a plate, one must surgically cut through the bone and change the angle of the knee, where as a lateral suture is less invasive than this. The success rate is high and complications are low with either surgery, but they do carry a moderate price tag. The TPLO (which cuts the bone and uses a plate) is typically more expensive than a lateral suture. For more in depth information, you may consult with an orthopedic surgeon about this disease. They can assess Winky Boy and give you a better recommendation for him and which procedure is best considering his age and normal activity. Hope this helps and best of luck.

My cat has a torn ACL in his knee. What's involved with surgery?

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