Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 My Vet just performed a surgery to stabilize the talocrural joint of a Lab who had a chronic very lax gastrocnemius tendon. Prior to surgery this dog was walking with his hock in deep flexion. He placed a screw from his distal calcaneus to his tibia to hold his hock in extension. Does anyone have experience with this procedure? I'm looking for information regarding healing times, contraindications, etc. to help me develop this dogs rehab program. Thanks for your help, Amy Flannery MS PT CCRP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Amy, This is a very common technique, however the screw is predisposed to breaking. Therefore, the repair is typically supported/protected with additional devices (either a hinged hock brace, orthosis, or lateral splint). The screw is typically removed at 4 to 6 weeks, however the tendon repair must still be protected (hinged brace, orthosis, etc) as the dog is progressing through rehab. Actual time for tendon healing…..approximatelty 3+/- months. A hinged brace is nice because you can start increasing the load on the tissues over time by increasing the range of motion. Sherman Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS Diplomate ACVS Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group 10270 Baltimore National Pike Ellicott City, MD 21042 Phone: Fax: http://www.vosm.org From: VetRehab [mailto:VetRehab ] On Behalf Of alan.holter Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 2:59 PM To: VetRehab Subject: Re: Need Info re- rehab Plan I tried this procedure once and the screw broke within days. i think there is too much stress on just a screw, there needs to be some other added stabilization. Most of these lax tendons take 6-8 weeks to tighten before I recommend starting rehab. Alan Holter DVM > > My Vet just performed a surgery to stabilize the talocrural joint of a > Lab who had a chronic very lax gastrocnemius tendon. Prior to surgery > this dog was walking with his hock in deep flexion. He placed a screw > from his distal calcaneus to his tibia to hold his hock in extension. > Does anyone have experience with this procedure? I'm looking for > information regarding healing times, contraindications, etc. to help me > develop this dogs rehab program. > Thanks for your help, > Amy Flannery MS PT CCRP > No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1855 - Release Date: 12/18/2008 10:16 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Hi Amy. I tend to progress these guys from all activity (including rehab) in the brace (static, no ROM) to gradually increasing ROM to rehab activities out of the brace and home activity in the brace to full activity without the brace. Another intermediate step might be from a high temp thermoplastic brace to a tarsoflex with low temp thermoplastic to tarsoflex alone. This is going to take a good long while-- 12 weeks plus, especially if you think there are complications (screw breaking) or chronic laxity. Is the chronic laxity due to another underlying systemic issue? That might (definitely will) affect your outcome. Amie Amie Lamoreaux Hesbach, MSPT, CCRP, CCRT Next Step Animal Rehabilitation & Fitness, LLC Huntingtown, land USA www.vetmash.com Need Info re- rehab Plan My Vet just performed a surgery to stabilize the talocrural joint of a Lab who had a chronic very lax gastrocnemius tendon. Prior to surgery this dog was walking with his hock in deep flexion. He placed a screw from his distal calcaneus to his tibia to hold his hock in extension. Does anyone have experience with this procedure? I'm looking for information regarding healing times, contraindications, etc. to help me develop this dogs rehab program. Thanks for your help, Amy Flannery MS PT CCRP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Thank you Dr. Canapp, I shared your response with my Vet. He is going to send you an e-mail. Thanks for your help. Amy Amy Flannery MS, PT, CCRP Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner Animal Rehabilitation and Fitness 316 3rd Ave Alpha, NJ 08865 phone fax e-mail aarf@... web animalrehabilitationandfitness.com Amy, This is a very common technique, however the screw is predisposed to breaking. Therefore, the repair is typically supported/protected with additional devices (either a hinged hock brace, orthosis, or lateral splint). The screw is typically removed at 4 to 6 weeks, however the tendon repair must still be protected (hinged brace, orthosis, etc) as the dog is progressing through rehab. Actual time for tendon healing...approximatelty 3+/- months. A hinged brace is nice because you can start increasing the load on the tissues over time by increasing the range of motion. Sherman Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS Diplomate ACVS Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group 10270 Baltimore National Pike Ellicott City, MD 21042 Phone: Fax: cid:image001.jpg@... <http://www.vosm.org/> http://www.vosm.org <http://www.vosm.org> From: VetRehab [mailto:VetRehab ] On Behalf Of alan.holter Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 2:59 PM To: VetRehab Subject: Re: Need Info re- rehab Plan I tried this procedure once and the screw broke within days. i think there is too much stress on just a screw, there needs to be some other added stabilization. Most of these lax tendons take 6-8 weeks to tighten before I recommend starting rehab. Alan Holter DVM > > My Vet just performed a surgery to stabilize the talocrural joint of a > Lab who had a chronic very lax gastrocnemius tendon. Prior to surgery > this dog was walking with his hock in deep flexion. He placed a screw > from his distal calcaneus to his tibia to hold his hock in extension. > Does anyone have experience with this procedure? I'm looking for > information regarding healing times, contraindications, etc. to help me > develop this dogs rehab program. > Thanks for your help, > Amy Flannery MS PT CCRP > No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1855 - Release Date: 12/18/2008 10:16 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.19/1853 - Release Date: 12/18/2008 10:16 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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