ACL Surgery - feedback needed. - Page 2

We dealt with a torn ACl this past June with our Shepherd. She too is 5 years of age. I can share our experiencde with you. First , price wise you are in the ball park.  Our surgeon is very experienced in the various surgerical procedures used to correct the tear. We were happy that the angulation of her knee allowed us to have the TTA procedure.

The recovery is no picnic but we were very dilligent in her recovery and have been very happy with the outcome. She is 7 months out and runs like the wind, off leash :)
Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the feedback .... I really do appreciate it. We will need to make a decision as to how best to proceed in the near future.

One thing that surfaced subsequent to the visit to the vet was as to whether an ACL tear can be diagnosed with confidence based on an xray. I know that in the case of an ACL injury on a human, only an MRI can provide high level of confidence of such an injury having occurred. An xray will not be conclusive by any means. I don't know if things are different when it comes to a dog.

While an X-ray will not show soft tissue injury, there is a simple test. Called checking for drawer action. Meaning if your holding both the upper and lower bones on the knee, can you manually slide the lower half of the joint in front of the upper bone. Because if the ACL is intact it prevents this action from happening. In a partial or complet tear of the ACL the lower half of the knee will slide forward.
Very low tech but very effective.

I think you have several options in NoVA. My neighbor's dog had two ACLs in the course of a year, so they took her to Dr. Bradley in Manassas, www.vsrp.org. I was referred to him by my vet for pano eval and I spent some time talking to his office on the phone. Was not that impressed, they wouldn't talk to me until they received the referral, wanted to sedate my dog for the x-ray, wouldn't even give it a try. Another option would be VOSM in Annapolis Junctions, MD. I took Chaos there for the pano and it was totally worth the 40 min drive. They went over everything on the phone, the lady spent probably 40 min just answering my questions. They didn't sedate Chaos, were very open to letting me go with them to the x- ray, the whole thing couldn't have worked better. The clinic is absolutely fantastic in terms of equipment and facilities. IMO, worth giving them a call. If I recall correctly, the consultation fee was $150.

You can also try the Hope Center in Vienna, they have ortho, but it all comes down to how many of these surgeries they have done. You can also call and check with university of PA vet school clinic, they have ortho dept. and I believe are cheaper, even though it is a longer drive.

HTH, feel free to PM me if I can be of any help.

I had a mixed breed who had ACL surgery repaired with the 'line' method (we don't call it that here, but I can't remember what they called it at the time, it was probably 12 yrs ago now). She was rouglyy 2/3 shepherd size. Healed very well and was fine on it. Other one went roughly a year later and had the same surgery on that leg, different surgeon and an infection set in, and it had to be re-done. the knee joint was forever thickened, and slightly turned out, but never really gave her any trouble, and she wasn't limited in any way, she was about 7 at the time. Recovery was about 3 monnths, but as someone else said ensuring that the exercise/recovery regime is followed correctly is as at least as important as the surgery itself.  Apparently it is very common that once one goes, the other often follows.

Thanks again, to all who provided additional feedback ..... it has been very helpful.

Botanica, I will PM you for additional information if I should need it. Your information regarding the experience with the Manassas facility is  helpful since someone else had suggested we investigate this location. Someone else indicated that there was a vet in Winchester who specializes in the fish line method. The information on the vet school in PA is also helpful.

Right at the moment our dog appears to be doing quite well ....... perhaps it is the inflammatory the vet prescribed that she has been getting every day.

I sent you a pm... I know a veterinarian who is VERY skilled in this procedure... the cost is about 1/2 of what you were quoted.  Location is about 20 min from 495... go take a look.

amysavesjacks, I received your private message.  Thanks for the information. I will definitely check it out further.

You're welcome.  Best wishes for your dogs speedy recovery