The surgery department at Animerge is led by Dr. Roxane Collins who joined the practice in the fall of 2007. Dr. Collins enjoys and is highly competent in all aspects of small animal soft tissue and orthopedic surgery. She has extensive experience in highly technical orthopedic procedures using the IMEX external fixators and VOI and Synthes implants. She is skilled in both the TPLO and TTA procedures for cruciate ligament stabilization. Additionally, she is well-versed in soft tissue procedures such as portal-systemic shunt ligation, skin grafting, and surgical oncology. Her neurosurgery skills include myelograms and laminectomies for intervertebral disc herniation. Please call our office with questions about the full range of specific surgical procedures that Dr. Collins provides or to schedule a referral appointment for those cases that would benefit from her diverse experience.

Introducing the Tibial Tuberosity Advancement procedure for cranial cruciate ligament-deficient stifles.
Beginning in December 2001, the surgical procedure for the TTA and the specialized equipment and implants were refined using clinical cases at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.   In 2004, Kyon Pharma, Inc., taught the new procedure to approximately 50 veterinary surgeons worldwide.  Its initial and lasting success has gained it broad acceptance in the veterinary field.

The TTA, much like the TPLO, works by changing the forces acting upon the stifle joint.  An osteotomy is first created at the margin of the tibial tuberosity and then advanced cranially by a predetermined amount.  A cage implant is placed in the defect which allows for bone ingrowth and immediate strength despite the creation of a large bone gap.  A specially designed titanium plate, fork, and screws are applied to the medial surface of the tibia.  Finally, a bone graft is used to fill the defect around the cage.  All dogs undergoing this procedure will need 8 weeks restricted activity to allow for complete bone healing.

Surgeon
Roxane Lea Collins, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS.