Proactive pain relief for all TPLO patients
An elective orthopaedic surgery like a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy) gives us the opportunity to devise a thorough analgesia (pain relief) plan for every patient, before surgery begins. At Wingham & Valley Vets, we are very proactive about pain relief for surgical patients. It is a high priority that we use multi-modal pain relief to make your pet as comfortable as he/she can possibly be, after surgery. Not only does this help their recovery from surgery, but it is so much better for their welfare.
For TPLO patients, we use "ultrasound-guided local anaesthetic nerve blocks" before surgery begins, once the patient is under general anaesthesia. Using ultrasound to guide a long, narrow needle, we can place local anaesthesia medication all around a nerve, effectively 'bathing' the nerve in local anaesthetic. This is performed in the mid-thigh region, on two nerves: the femoral nerve and the sciatic nerve. This procedure desensitises or numbs these nerves for the duration of the upcoming surgery. By numbing these nerves at the mid-thigh, we also numb the entire limb below this level - including the lower thigh, knee (stifle) joint and the tibia - all the areas where surgery is performed during a TPLO.
So how does this help? Well, it prevents any sensation/detection of pain in the first place. Prevention of pain is always more effective than cure! It is much harder to control post-operative pain if it has already built up to a high level, even with strong painkillers. This is the situation we avoid by using effective nerve blocks before TPLO surgery.
In our experience, and as backed up by research papers, TPLO patients receiving nerve blocks wake up much more comfortably after surgery, and are walking sooner, and beginning their recovery from surgery much sooner. This also allows TPLO patients at Wingham and Valley Vets to return home to their loved ones much sooner, a significant benefit for both the dog and their family.
We also use other forms of analgesia (pain relief) before, during and after TPLO surgery, and this is called "multi-modal" pain relief. A combinaion of pain relief that yields more comfortable patients.
If you would like to enquire about TPLO surgery for your beloved pet, please contact us and request to speak to Dr. Michael Healy who will be happy to discuss the surgery in further detail with you, and answer any questions you may have.
Alternatively, if your pet pooch is limping (lame) and you would like them examined, please click "Book Online" at the top menu of this website, or call 65570000 to book an appointment to see any of our vets.
We perform TPLO surgery on a regular basis, with very high standards of surgical care from our dedicated team. We accept referral patients from all over the Manning Valley and greater mid north coast, including Taree, Gloucester, Old Bar, Harrington, Bulahdelah, Forster, Tuncurry, Diamond Beach, Tinonee, Port Macquarie and Wauchope.
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