Pet Soft Tissue & Orthopaedic Surgery

What is Soft Tissue Surgery?

Soft tissue surgery is any surgery not connected with bones or joints.

This surgery takes many different forms, as there are many different soft tissues in the body. The type of surgery also varies with the intention of the procedure. It may be preventative (e.g. desexing surgery), curative (e.g. abscess surgery), diagnostic (e.g. taking biopsy samples to find out exactly what a type of tissue is) or palliative (e.g. reducing the size of a tumour to make an animal more comfortable).

The actual procedures we perform at Eltham Veterinary Practice include:

Soft Tissue Surgery

• Desexing (spey, castration)
• Caesarean section
• Lumpectomy (lump removal)
• Biopsy
• Abscess surgery
• Eye and eyelid surgery
• External & middle ear surgery
• Hernia repair
• Surgery of the head and mouth
• Airway obstruction treatment (soft palate, larynx)
• Abdomen or chest surgery
• Bladder surgery
• Cancer (tumour surgery)
• Surgical tumour removal
• Reconstruction after cancer removal

Orthopaedic surgery (bones and joints)

• Fractures and ligament repairs both simple and complex
• Conventional and locking plates, linear, and hybrid external fixation
• Cruciate ligament rupture: more info
• Tibial osteotomy (TTO)
• Stabilisation (lateral fabella suture or De Angelis repair)
• Patella luxation
• Trochleoplasty, tibial tuberosity transposition
• Distal femoral wedge ostectomy for distal femoral bowing
• Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis – prevents Hip Dysplasia: more info
• Arthrodesis: partial carpal, pancarpal, partial tarsal, pantarsal

Orthopaedic surgery performed at Eltham Veterinary Practice is usually either Bone Fractures, or Joint/Ligament Injury surgery and may be as a result of a traumatic accident (fall, hit by car, foot in pothole when running), but could also include correction of congenital and developmental limb deformities or removal of cancers involving bones.

Bone Fractures

Fracture investigation and repair in animals involves stabilising the patient, diagnosing the extent of the injuries, and fixation of broken bones to allow them to heal. Stabilisation means dealing with any life threatening problems such as damaged internal organs and shock. Diagnostic radiographs (x-rays) are taken to determine the extent of and repair type for any fractures. A number of repair options are available and are selected depending on the type of fracture, sometimes they are used in combination as well. They include: splinting, cerclage wiring around the bone, screws, plates, pinning and external skeletal fixation (external frame).

Ligament/Joint/Tendon injuries

The surgical procedure for other orthopaedic injuries (such as cruciate ligament rupture) is similar, with diagnosis being made at a consultation and then confirmed with x-rays and examination under anaesthetic. Repair consists of stabilising the joint if unstable, and removing any torn or damaged tissue likely to cause future problems.

Spinal Surgery

Pets that have spinal injuries or suspected spinal problems are stablised and x-rayed at Eltham Veterinary Practice. They are then generally referred to a Surgical Specialist if surgery is required.

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