Dylan, a 10-year-old English Springer Spaniel, is known for his energy and love of fetch and swimming. So when he began limping, his owner, Sheena Hawkins, knew something was wrong.

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A Persistent Problem

“Dylan is such a character and makes us smile every day,” Sheena said. “When he started having trouble walking, we knew we needed help.”

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After a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear in late 2020, Dylan had an initial surgery, but he continued to have trouble walking comfortably.

In February 2021, he was referred to Pat Ridge, BVSc, at Ridge Referrals in South Devon, England.

“Follow-up x-rays showed the issue was due to an internal pivot shift,” Dr. Ridge explained. “It was impacting his ability to walk correctly.”

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Advanced Arthrex Vet Systems Treatment for Dylan

Because Dylan’s knee remained unstable, Dr. Ridge recommended a combination of procedures using several implants— each designed to restore stability and help Dylan return to his active life.

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Step 1: Stabilizing the Knee With a TPLO Plate

Dr. Ridge first examined the inside of Dylan’s knee with a small camera (arthroscopy) to check for any meniscal damage. He then removed the previous implants and performed a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) using a 3.5 mm stainless steel Arthrex TPLO plate.

TPLO surgery reshapes the top of the shinbone so the knee becomes stable again after a CCL tear. This helps reduce pain and allows pets to put weight on the leg more comfortably during healing.

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Step 2: Extra Support Using the TightRope® Implant With InternalBrace™ Repair

After securing the TPLO plate, Dr. Ridge added an InternalBrace repair—a strong suture‑based reinforcement that provides extra support to the knee while it heals.

To give Dylan’s knee even more stability, he also added a TightRope implant.

The TightRope implant acts like an internal support line that helps keep the knee steady while your dog heals. It’s stronger than traditional suture materials and provides added protection as the joint recovers.

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“Combining TPLO with InternalBrace repair provides excellent results in selected cases,” Dr. Ridge said. “The Arthrex plate design and laser lines made placement precise and predictable.”

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Rehabilitation and a Return to Comfort

Dylan was prescribed six weeks of rest after surgery—an important part of any orthopedic recovery.

“When animals like Dylan come back walking normally, that’s the best thing in the world,” Dr. Ridge said.

Sheena added, “The Arthrex procedure enabled Dylan to return to his energetic, wonderful self again. Dylan is part of our family, and we look forward to many more happy years together.”