Luxating Patella Repairs

We use the latest techniques to get your pet back on their feet

Luxating patellas (slipping kneecaps) commonly affect small dogs and occasionally our bigger dogs too. In smaller dogs the condition tends to start from a young age and can slowly progress throughout life, ultimately coming to apoint where surgical intervention is necessary. In larger dogs, it tends to occur after a traumatic event, like an accident with a car or major fall.

The most common sign is a hopping or skipping action in the effected back leg. This is often on and off and doesn’t appear to be overtly painful.

Left untreated, patella injuries will always go on to develop painful arthritis and risk further injuries inside the knee, like cruciated injuries. We recommend swift screening and treatment for dogs with luxating patellas to give them the best long term outcome.

Our experienced surgeon Dr Matt Buchanan-Pascall has undergone further training in advanced orthopaedic surgery and routinely performs this surgery. Call to chat to him over the phone or book in to get your dog on the path to recovery. You’re in good hands!

Patella Surgery

$4000including
  • Patella repair surgery and x-rays post operatively to ensure positioning of the kneecap
  • All medications during surgery and for the first 2 weeks of recovery
  • 4 re-checks post-operatively to monitor recovery and give a series of ‘zydax’ injections to promote joint health
Call to Book in Surgery

Early Diagnosis of Patella Issues

We can diagnose most cases of luxating patellas by simple examination during a consultation. We grade them for you and advise which can be handled without surgery and which will benefit from surgical intervention. On occasion, we will will recommend getting x-rays under general anaesthetic to look more closely at the knee and hips prior to surgery to ensure we have all information on hand and guide exact treatment.

We know that different breeds have different risk profiles for patella injuries. This is mainly based on their anatomy and the angle of the average angle of the joint in each particular breed. While this injury is possible in any breed, some of the common breeds include:

  • Large breeds: German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Malamutes, Standard Poodles
  • Medium breeds: Cocker Spaniels, Kelpies, Border Collies, Blue Heelers
  • Small breeds: Cavoodles, Poodles, French Bulldogs

A luxating patella is often the result of genetic predisposition, with some breeds and breeding lines being more succeptable than others. Other common causes include poor conformation, injury through repetitive strain or traumatic injury. Getting the best possible surgical outcome and monitoring weight closely will give us the best chance for a great outcome long term.

Patella Repairs

Patella injuries in dogs and cats need surgery to get the best possible outcome. Our experienced surgeons will discuss the options, costs, and pros and cons with you to tailor our treatment to the needs of your pet.

At Advanced Vet Care Lane Cove, our surgeons usually use a combination of three techniques to help re-align the patella (kneecap) and keep it in place long term:

  1. Deepen the trochlear groove – this is a technique where we deepen the groove in the thigh bone that the kneecap actually sits in. That way the patella is much more likely to stay in place during movement;
  2. Translocate the tibial crest – the patella attaches to the shin bone via a tendon called the patella tendon. We make a cut into the shin bone (tibial crest) and move it across into better alignment before we then pin it to hold it in its new, better anatomical position.
  3. Tighten the fascia – this means that we help pull together all of the loosened muscle on the outside of the knee that has become too soft over time. This is the last key to helping the muscles get used to the new position of the kneecap.

Rest and exercise moderation is a key factor for dogs and cats recovering from patella surgery. We will guide you throughout the recovery period.

The first 10-14 days include strict cage rest, where the only time your pet comes out of the pen is to go to the toilet (always on lead so they can’t make sudden running movements). We also ask you to ice the surgical site for the first few days post-operatively and then once the swelling has reduce we ask you to start with passive range of motion exercises, which we will demonstrate for you.

From the 2-6 week period your pet will still need to be strictly cage-rested, however we now get you taking them on increasingly longer on-lead walks. These will increase by 5-10 minutes each week, so that a couple of months after surgery they should be tolerating 30 minute walks well.

At 8 weeks you can usually re-introduce your dog back to running and jumping and to enjoying a full and fun life!

Every surgical procedure has potential complications and worldwide studies show that there is up to 10% complication rates in patella surgery. The complications range from minor infections at the surgical incision, to loosening of the pins, infection of the pins or fractures of the shin bone from the implants. Although some complications require further intervention, we always work with you to get the best outcome possible for your pet.

We take anaesthetic monitoring extremely seriously and are proud to offer the highest level of monitoring care for you pet.

We go above and beyond the accepted standards to include:

  1. monitoring of oxygen levels via an spO2 probe (called pulse oximetry)
  2. a continuous ECG trace to track the heart’s rhythm throughout surgery;
  3. blood pressure monitoring – this is the key to a successful recovery;
  4. carbon dioxide monitoring to ensure the lungs are able to blow off all harmful gases;
  5. patients are warmed with a ‘bair hugger‘ to prevent deleterious cooling;
  6. all patients receive intravenous fluids to ensure hydration remains perfect;
  7. we use the most modern anaesthetic machines and drug protocols.

Patient comfort is also key to recovery, so we go above and beyond. We ensure all patients are kept as comfortable as possible with a combination of local anaesthetic pain relief, opioid pain relief and anti-inflammatory pain relief.

Ongoing Joint Care

In all cases of patella surgery, the home care you provide plays the biggest role in your pet’s quality of life long term. We will help guide you on that journey.

We know that weight is a key factor in predicting the outcome long term. That means overweight pets are at higher risk of developing or struggling with arthritis that can follow. Extra weight on your pet not only increases the load on the joints and puts more strain on them, but we also know that fat cells are ‘pro-inflammatory’, meaning they keep the body and joints in a constant state of inflammation.

So, keep your dog or cat in a lean, healthy weight for the rest of its adult life post-operatively.

Rest and exercise moderation is a key factor for dogs and cats recovering from patella surgery. Beyond the post-operative period, it is important to try to prevent any further damage occuring. Minimising activities that place strain on the knees and moving your pet on to a more gentle exercise regimen are important steps for their ongoing health.

We regularly use injections of pentosan polysulphate (known as zydax or cartrophen) during the recovery phase after surgery and then every year thereafter.

The injections are given under the skin each week for 4 treatments. The injections contain a synthetic medication which draws more water into the joints, effectively thickening the joint fluid to provide a cushioning effect. By reducing the rubbing between the cartilage surfaces, the cycle of inflammation is interrupted which can help with ongoing health and delay the eventual onset of arthritis.

There is lots of help available beyond the patella surgery, and these extra treatments can have positive impact during initial recovery and long term outcome. Treatments include referral for physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture. You will be guided as to how often you need to have these procedures performed to optimise recovery.

Supplements and neutraceutical use in dogs is an area of debate between veterinarians. There is still limited evidence for the use of various supplements, however, we believe that they may indeed play some role in helping our pets.

The most heavily studied supplement recently is green-lipped muscle and it comes in two forms, either a lower concentration in a product called 4Cyte or in a stronger concentration in a product called Antinol.