Cruciate Ligament Rupture: Beyond the TPLO

In this episode of BoardsCast, we go beyond the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and examine cruciate ligament rupture through a broader lens of joint mechanics, instability, and alternative strategies.

You’ll learn:

• Why cruciate rupture is a degenerative—not traumatic—process
• The biomechanics behind cranial tibial thrust and passive constraint
• How alignment, slope, and conformation influence surgical planning
• When TPLO isn’t the right answer — and what to do instead
• Lateral suture, CBLO, TTA, and conservative options: pros and pitfalls
• How to handle the partially torn cruciate and emerging diagnostics

This episode is for anyone who wants to understand not just how to cut a TPLO — but when not to.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction: CCL Rupture - More Than Just a Torn Ligament
• 1:34 Stifle Joint Anatomy and CCL Function: Beyond Simple Stability
• 4:16 Clinical Presentation of CCL Tears: Lameness and Drawer Test Nuances
• 5:58 Biomechanical Consequences and Osteoarthritis Development
• 6:48 Meniscal Injuries: Commonality, Vulnerability (Medial Caudal Horn), and Probing
• 7:56 Meniscal Treatment: Partial Meniscectomy vs. Total Meniscectomy
• 8:50 Underlying Skeletal Deformities: Predisposition and Surgical Correction
• 10:57 Surgical Stabilization Strategies: Extracapsular Repair
• 12:14 Intra-articular Reconstruction: Grafts (Autografts, Synthetics) and Their Challenges
• 13:54 Biomechanical Osteotomies: TTA and TPLO (Neutralizing Shear Force)
• 15:07 Total Joint Replacement and Comprehensive Diagnostic Approach
• 16:54 Board-Style Question and Answer: Partial CCL Tear Diagnosis
• 17:32 Flashcard Recap: Key Takeaways
• 18:44 Conclusion: Comprehensive Approach for Long-Term Outcomes