Pawprints Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Tealc had a TPLO done in Feb this year. The operation went well as did his recovery. He now runs and walks and his limp is barely noticeable. However recently the wound site began to weep and become inflamed. We rang Chris Preston who informed us that the reason is most likely rejection of the screws and plate and they would have to be removed now. Apprently it happens in 1 in 1000 and of course we have that dog He has quoted us $1300 to do this. Our other vet - second opinion - says more like $600. Chris says the reason he will be higher is he can do it and other vets might not know how to do it and round out the screw heads and stuff it up etc. Has anyone had any experience with this after a TPLO. I'm trying to be positive here and not think this is a money spinner. The leg has already cost us $5000 and although I'm happpy to pay whatever to get my baby right, I'm a little peeved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Tealc had a TPLO done in Feb this year. The operation went well as did his recovery. He now runs and walks and his limp is barely noticeable.However recently the wound site began to weep and become inflamed. We rang Chris Preston who informed us that the reason is most likely rejection of the screws and plate and they would have to be removed now. Apprently it happens in 1 in 1000 and of course we have that dog He has quoted us $1300 to do this. Our other vet - second opinion - says more like $600. Chris says the reason he will be higher is he can do it and other vets might not know how to do it and round out the screw heads and stuff it up etc. Has anyone had any experience with this after a TPLO. I'm trying to be positive here and not think this is a money spinner. The leg has already cost us $5000 and although I'm happpy to pay whatever to get my baby right, I'm a little peeved. A rather arrogant statement from Chris Preston. There are other orthopaedic surgeons with equal or far more experience than he has. I would be rather peeved too. I would be asking my vet for a referral to Wing Tip Wong or to one of the otho specialists at the Melbourne Veterinary Specialists Centre in Glen Waverley for their opinion. I think it would be unusual to have an allergy to the titanium implant. Wing Tip Wong did the surgery on both knees of my dog. The first was done at 18 months and second one year later. We had no problems with the implants. We did have a minor problem with the second surgery that was due to my girl being allergic to the suture material they used. This was quickly and easily remedied. My dog was not left with any sign of a limp after she had recovered from either of her surgeries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 (edited) Another vote for Wing Tip Wong at Melbourne Uni here. Of course a normal vet that does orthopedic surgery as part of their practice are going to be cheaper then a specalist surgeon but are they going to be as good? Specalist orthopedic surgeons doing these operations all the time and have more training then normal vets but are going to be more expensive. If the procedure is simple that I would probably go with a normal vet who does orthopedic surgery alot but if it is a complicated procedure I would go with a specalist surgeon who not only has more experience bt also has better equipment. It's a bugger that it needs to be done again but things do happen. I just looked after a little puggy for nearly 4 months after she had her second orthopedic surgery. Her first surgery failed after a month with the plate snapping and screws coming out of her bones. Her little leg costs far more them $5,000. Edited August 5, 2009 by puggy_puggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laneka Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Pawprints, I am so sorry to read this about Tealc. Hope you get the right help at the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poodle wrangler Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 So sorry to hear about this. Weeping and inflammation? First thing I thought of was infection (I'm not a vet). Did he think antibiotics were appropriate? I know in people with joint replacements, infection can be a problem even months down the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawprints Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks guys. Yes he has just finished the 3rd course of antibiotics and it is not clearing up. The two opinions have been that rejection is likely occuring. I thought the titanium plate was there for good and I thought titanium was used as it is not rejected by the body. But like everything I suppose, it can be rejected. Chris said that the plate is not needed now the bone should have healed, it was mainly acting as a splint so it can be taken out no problem. He also said that to bring the price down they can cut some corners like not give him Morphine I don't think so. We have Tealc booked in at out local vet whom we trust to have the plate removed on Friday. He is also going to do some xrays at the same time to ensure that he has healed OK. I hate having to put him through surgery again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrm88 Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 Honestly, if your regular vet does a fair few orthopaedic surgeries, they should be fine to do it. Chris Preston is a good specialist and he would do far more than your average vet so I guess it depends on how much you trust your regular vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) Morphine would be the cheapest part of the bill. If your Vet thinks they can do it then I would go for it, there are other specialists always available via the phone in case the Vet sees something they are not sure of. Has a culture and sensitivity been done on the fluid that's coming out? Edited August 6, 2009 by Staff'n'Toller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiahzen Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 PP I hope he recovers well from this next lot of surgery, big hugs to you both.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 If the bone has healed the plate and screws are not needed. Plates are not usually taken out because that would mean more surgery the dog has to go through. Maybe it's the screws that are causing the problem. I'm not sure what they are made of. I would be wanting xrays done before anything was done personally. And yes morphine would be one of the cheapest things on the bill. Fingers crossed that everything goes well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bouledogue Français Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 Another vote for Wing Tip Wong And another here I would be going to him for a second opinion before anything else was done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanglen Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 How did things go???? Was a culture collected at the time of surgery to remove? I really hope things have gone well for both of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawprints Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 Thanks guys, he is in surgery today, I will keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oonga Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Good Luck Pawprints I sincerely hope it all goes well for Tealc Hope you hold up ok today as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tru Borders Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Good Luck PP We are all keeping our paws crossed for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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