Molly and her OrthoPets Stifle Device (Dog Knee Brace)

Molly is a 12-and-a-half-year-old golden retriever who presented for sudden right hind limb lameness at Mission Vet Hospital in July 2017. There, she was diagnosed with a left partial CCL tear, which had been previously diagnosed, a right CCL tear, tarsal hyperextension, as well as osteoarthritis.

In Molly's case, her owner chose bilateral stifle orthoses due to her age and diagnoses in addition to therapeutic expectations and goals. After we reviewed Molly's case, it was determined that bilateral stifle orthoses, with an addition of tarsal cuffs, would be the best option for her. Tarsal cuffs were added to Molly's stifle orthoses to assist in controlling the extent of her tarsal hyperextension, as well as add additional device suspension.

Molly's left stifle tarsus orthosis received motion limiter hinges restricting abnormal tarsal hyperextension. OrthoPets designed her orthoses with lower resistance hinges on the lateral aspect of her stifle due to her age, along with standard resistance hinges on the medial side ensuring appropriate stifle support.

Once the orthoses were fabricated, they were shipped to the clinic where the referring veterinarian was able to fit them properly and discuss with Molly's owners the recommended break-in schedule, activity, and return to function. Molly received her right stifle tarsus device in August 2017 and her left stifle tarsus device in November 2017.

Luckily for Molly, her owner had already planned to start her in rehabilitation therapy to assist Molly through her initial device acclimation period and throughout the rest of her pathofunctional recovery.

We followed up with the referring veterinarian and owner to see how Molly has been doing in her bilateral orthoses and received a reply email with an amazing update: "She's doing well with them, both in walking and in rehabilitation therapy. On a good day, she'll walk the trails for up to 50 minutes. Not bad for a 12-year-old!!"

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Left: Molly's left stifle cast prior to her orthotic. Right: Molly walking in the woods in her bilateral stifle devices.[/caption]