Willows is one of the leading small animal orthopaedic referral centres in Europe, treating over a 1000 new cases per year. Our team of orthopaedic surgeons comprises specialists Malcolm McKee, Toby Gemmill, Jonathan Pink, Stephen Clarke and Gareth Arthurs, assisted by our resident, Stephen Kalff who has advanced experience in small animal surgery. In common with all the staff at Willows, our orthopaedic surgeons are 'committed to excellence' at every level and with each and every patient that they see and treat.

The starting point for each patient presented to a member of the team is that of a detailed consultation and discussion with the owner. Diagnosing the cause of lameness often necessitates further investigations, and Willows has access to state-of-the art orthopaedic diagnostic facilities including digital radiography, computerised tomography (CT scanning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scanning) and arthroscopy, a technique in which a small camera is inserted into a joint. We deal with a wide variety of orthopaedic problems in both dogs and cats, but the two most commonly encountered categories of conditions are those of lameness and trauma. The most common causes of lameness which the orthopaedic team treats are rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in the knee joint, and hip and elbow dysplasia. Trauma patients, such as those in which dogs and cats are involved in road traffic accidents, often sustain fractures and joint injuries. Our critical-care and surgical facilities enable us to optimise the management of these frequently challenging cases.

Orthopaedic surgery requires very high levels of aseptic technique in order to minimise the possibility of postoperative infection. Our operating theatres are equipped and managed to the highest of standards, enabling our surgeons to provide the best chance of a good outcome for their patients. Willows has the most advanced of orthopaedic instrumentation, enabling our surgeons to perform both internal and external fracture fixation, arthroscopic surgery, joint replacements, correction of limb deformities by a variety of techniques including limb lengthening, and joint fusions (arthrodesis). Our surgeons are supported by a highly trained and caring team of veterinary nurses who play a critical role in rehabilitating patients following orthopaedic surgery.

To assist owners whose pets have orthopaedic problems, we have put together a range of information sheets which cover a number of the conditions which we commonly see in our practice. Please feel free to view and download this information by following the links provided.

 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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