Our course aims to provide a thorough understanding of the CCL disease process in dogs, and the principles, techniques, and surgical considerations for the TPLO procedure through a blend of pre-course work, theoretical learning, practical demonstrations, and most importantly, hands-on experience. Pre-course work will be required in order to maximize time in the lab. Each attendee will have one sawbone and three cadaveric limbs. Your hands will learn as much as your mind will.

Led by ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeon, Dr. Tony Kahn, participants will be guided through the pathophysiology leading to CCL disease, the diagnosis of CCL incompetence, and will delve into the intricacies of TPLO surgery—from patient selection and preoperative planning, to surgical execution and postoperative management. Throughout the course, attendees will:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the anatomy and biomechanics of the stifle joint, the pathophysiology of CCL degradation, and the rationale behind TPLO as a surgical solution.
• Learn the utility and limitations of various ways to diagnose CCL incompetence: physical exam, diagnostic imaging, arthroscopy, etc.
• Learn how to surgically approach the stifle joint, and how to assess it for pathology.
• Learn patient positioning, sterile prep and how to minimize SSIs
• Come to understand the menisci: what they’re for, why they get damaged coincident with CCL disease, how to assess them, and how to treat tears.
• Explore the surgical technique of the TPLO step-by-step, covering key aspects such as osteotomy planning, plate selection, implant placement, and intraoperative decision-making.
• Review potential intra- and post-operative complications, and equip specific solutions to attain confidence and successful outcomes.
• Understand the components of postoperative care, various rehabilitation options, and recommended follow-up to optimize patient recovery and function.

Attendees will achieve this through a combination of hands-on practical lab sessions using both anatomical models, and multiple cadaveric specimens. This allows for the repetition and refinement of surgical skills necessary to master a new technique, and all under expert guidance and tutelage.

Dr. Tony Kahn is a Brooklyn-based, board-certified veterinary surgeon with more than 15 years of experience. He performs all types of surgery, including soft tissue, oncologic, orthopedic and neurosurgical procedures. He also received advanced training in minimally invasive surgery, including procedures performed via arthroscopy (joints), laparoscopy (abdomen) and thoracoscopy (chest).

Dr. Kahn is a highly versatile surgeon who has worked in a range of high-volume veterinary hospitals. Prior to starting his own mobile surgery and surgical consulting company, Dr. Kahn was a surgeon at the Veterinary Emergency and Referral Group (VERG) in Brooklyn NY, for 6 years, where he pioneered the minimally invasive surgery program. Prior to VERG, he practiced in specialty hospitals in Montreal and Manhattan. In every hospital where he has practiced, Dr.Kahn has taken a leadership role in the clinical training of colleagues and interns.

He completed his Residency in Surgery at the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in New Jersey, as well as a General Medicine and Surgery internship at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan and a Surgery Specialty internship at the Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT. Dr. Kahn received his doctoral degree in Veterinary Medicine in 2004 from Tufts University. He received Bachelor’s degrees with High Thesis Honors in Biology and French Literature in 2000, also from Tufts University.