What is involved in surgery to fix a luxating patella?

Answer by  ross1976 (196)

Are you talking about a luxating patella in dogs or in human beings. I know that dogs have this fairly commonly, but a subluxating kneecap is also seen in humans. Obviously treatment will be different for the two.

Answer by  tweety (266)

Humans develop patellar subluxation too! if you have one you need supervised physiotherapy and some strapping or bracing. Get sensible footwear and check with your doc before you use them. If it does not get better, the orthopedician will probably do an arthroscopy and plan surgery on your kneecap.

Answer by  cmc94 (302)

I can tell you what we do for dogs. We first check with Xrays and then grade the luxating patella (1, 2, 3, 4). We don't operate on grade 1 luxations. Other grades need surgery - deepening of the sulcus of the thigh bone or realignment of the patellar attachment.