Recently I was contacted by someone whose lab had sustained a stifle injury; Yup, it was a suspected CCL tear (ACL-humans, CCL-canine). His message conveyed the feeling that he didn’t want to choose surgery b/c the dog had “many good years left.”
This question, or sentiment, is so frequently expressed (to me) that I have to (re) address it: In orthopedic situations such as a ligament rupture, is it best just to treat conservatively?
No.
Disclaimer: I am not a surgeon. I do not make any money off of surgical intervention. I have no monetary reason to suggest surgery is a better option. My view is established from what I’ve read and seen through my experience. Only.
In the case above, as with the majority of them, a vet recommended surgery. The owner felt that the vet was perhaps knife happy and while that may or may not be the case (it wasn’t a certified orthopedic vet by the ACVS or cert. in any other speciality techniques), the fact remains that the sooner the NON-intact joint is stablized, the sooner you can stop the RAPID progression of degeneration in the joint that WILL lead to deterioration and mostly likely, pain not to mention altered walking capabilities-for this particular diagnosis/problem.
So the fact that your dog has many good years left is the reason you would OPT toward surgery!
The ligament will not reattach itself or otherwise heal. The inflammation may subside only to be replaced with periodic or episodic bouts of chronic inflammation from the constant wearing (aka arthritis) of the bones together.
Which technique is THE best?
There isn’t one. In a future post we will discuss the different techniques but suffice to say, the best technique is the one your doctor says is the best, and he/she performs the most. NOT the only one he/she performs; for instance, an excapsular repair is endorsed but the vet is only capable of performing extracapsulars.
Questions to ask your vet: Do you promote rehab? Do you believe in crate rest only for 4-8wks? What is your rate of failure (surgical) for the particular technique? What is the clinic’s rate of infection?

Many inquiries start off by saying, “well, I know it’s not the hip, thankfully.”
I think that ‘hip dysplasia’ has become such a common moniker that people are mistakenly relieved to hear that their dog has a stifle problem over a “dreaded” hip problem. But, not so fast!!!