For Craig Leist, an Arthrex Territory Field Operations Manager, 2022 was a year of challenges—from losing his father to rebuilding his home after Hurricane Ian. Through everything, his family’s yellow Lab, Otis, was a constant source of comfort. But when Otis suddenly injured his leg with a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear, Craig faced yet another difficult moment.

‍

‍

A Sudden Injury

CCL disease is a slow-developing problem in dogs where the ligament in the knee gradually weakens over time. In the early stages, only small changes may be noticeable, such as stiffness after resting or a mild limp that comes and goes. As the ligament gets weaker, though, normal activities like running, jumping, making quick turns, or even slipping on the floor can cause it to fully tear. When that happens, the limping usually becomes sudden and much more obvious. “Otis ran out the back door and completely tore his canine cruciate ligament,” Craig said. “Two weeks later, he was still limping, so I knew we needed help.

Craig contacted the Arthrex Vet Systems team, who connected him with veterinarian Randy Dominguez, DVM, at Concierge Veterinary Hospital in Naples. Otis was seen the very next day.

‍

Orthopedic Veterinary Surgery Helps Otis

Dr. Dominguez confirmed a full CCL tear and recommended a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) using the Arthrex TPLO Locking Plate System.

“Otis had a full tear with mild-to-moderate arthritis at the time of his surgery,” Dr. Dominguez said.

When the CCL tears, the knee becomes unstable and painful. TPLO surgery changes the angle of the tibia (shinbone) so the knee stays stable even without the intact ligament. After adjusting the bone, the surgeon secures it with a TPLO plate and screws to hold everything in the correct position during healing.

‍

‍

“This is definitely the best option for injuries like this,” Dr. Dominguez explained. “Several studies have shown TPLO offers excellent mid- and long-term outcomes compared to other techniques.”

Arthrex also offers an InternalBrace™ repair option for added stability in cases that need extra support.

“The procedure went perfectly, and the repair was rock solid,” Dr. Dominguez said.

‍

Partial vs Full CCL Tears in Dogs

CCL tears can vary in severity:

• Partial tear: Some fibers are torn, causing pain and instability but not a complete loss of support.
• Full tear: The ligament is completely ruptured, leaving the knee unstable and often very painful.

Both types can worsen over time and may lead dogs to shift their weight to the opposite leg. This can increase the risk of a second injury, which is why early diagnosis and treatment are so important.

Surgical stabilization was Otis’s best option for long‑term comfort.

‍

Otis Returns Home After TPLO Surgery

Otis went home the same day to begin his recovery.

“Arthrex was already helping us with housing after Hurricane Ian, and then they stepped up to help fix our dog too—it’s really special,” Craig said.

Thanks to timely care and a structured recovery plan, Otis was soon back to enjoying life with his family.