The TPLO procedure is one of the most commonly performed knee stabilization procedures for cranial cruciate ligament injuries in the dog. The TPLO is considered a geometry modifying procedure whereby the orientation of the cartilage surface of the tibia (tibial plateau) is altered to provide stability to the knee.

For dogs, injuries to the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) — a ligament that helps hold the knee together — are common. Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery corrects the injury and has a high success rate of restoring function to the knee. Dogs usually make a full recovery about 6 months after TPLO surgery.

TPLO surgery, also known as Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy, is a surgical procedure performed on dogs to treat cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears or ruptures. The CCL plays a crucial role in stabilizing the knee joint, and when it becomes damaged, it can lead to pain, lameness, and difficulty walking.

TPLO surgery reconfigures the way a dog’s knee works, stabilizing the bones so that the leg can bend properly and painlessly, even without a CCL. To accomplish this, a veterinary surgeon changes the angle (level) of the joint surface (tibial plateau) by cutting into the tibia bone (osteotomy) and repositioning the resulting bone segment.