TPLO 201: Level Up! (Veterinarians)

April 16 - 17, 2025

Course Description

You’ve been trained in TPLO and you’ve gained experience in treating large breeds with mild stifle instability due to either early stage disease or due to chronic periarticular fibrosis … but small breeds, dogs with severe instability due to acute/complete CrCL rupture, and dogs with concurrent patellar luxation challenge you or perhaps you avoid these cases all together.

We’ve designed this TPLO 201 course so that you can take those next steps in your TPLO training and, perhaps, expand your patient spectrum. In this course, you’ll enjoy 3+ hours of online learning (in small bite-sized morsels) at your own pace and in your own place as you prepare for your more intensive in-person/hands-on training. In this hybrid course you’ll learn to:

Identify patients at-risk for persistent post-TPLO stifle rotational instability and treat them by integrating an InternalBrace extracapsular suture with their TPLO.
Perform the nuanced TPLO techniques needed in small breeds of dogs.
Intraoperatively assess and treat minor tibial torsional and varus conformations that contribute to rotational instability using the TPLO jig.
Assess patients with concurrent patellar luxation and CrCLD
- to determine if trochleoplasty is indicated.
- to determine if lateral tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT) is indicated.
Identify patients with combined excessive TPA and caudal tibial long axis shift (TLAS) for whom TPLO is contraindicated and describe their treatment options.

You’ll to return to your practice equipped with new insights and surgical skills to help you identify and treat those patients who require next-level TPLO techniques.

You are welcome (though not required) to bring one of your vet technicians with you to this course. Register your veterinary technician here.

Access to this course will expire one year (365 days) from the course’s end date. After this period, users will no longer have access to course materials, resources, and any associated content. It is the responsibility of the users to complete the course and download any materials including their course completion certificate.

Agenda

TMI_TPLO_201_PreCourse TMI_TPLO_201_April16-17_2025

Instructors

Dr. Kevin McAbee

Dr. Kevin McAbee is owner and mobile surgeon of Spire Veterinary Surgery in Fort Collins, CO. After graduating Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo, he attended Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, earning his DVM in 1999. He completed his residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York and became board-certified in small animal surgery in 2006. His clinical interests include orthopedic, neurologic, and oncology surgery.

Dr. Russell Fugazzi

Dr. Fugazzi is a veterinary surgeon at Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center. His formal education began at Texas A&M University studying Biomechanical Engineering and the development of artificial heart valves. Veterinary school followed soon thereafter; after graduating in 1999 with a mixed animal and exotic DVM degree, he practiced general medicine and surgery at different small animal practices in Southern Oregon and Colorado. After ten years of general practice, he was fortunate enough to gain a surgical internship at a private specialty hospital in Loveland, Colorado then a surgical residency at Washington State University. Studying both small animal orthopedics and soft tissue surgery he found a particular interest in orthopedics and minimally invasive surgery such as arthroscopy and laparoscopy. He spent the past 3 years developing his skills in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) while growing a small family before he moved back to the Rogue Valley.

Dr. Mark C. Rochat

DVM, MS, DACVS

Dr. Rochat graduated from Mississippi State University in 1986 and completed a residency at the University of Missouri in 1991. After a year in a surgical referral practice and attaining board certification, he accepted a position at Oklahoma State University, rising to the rank of Professor and Section Chief. In 2015, he moved to Purdue University where he now serves a Clinical Professor of Orthopedics and Chief of Small Animal Surgery. He has authored over 140 publications and given over 300 presentations. His professional interests include trauma, external skeletal fixation, fracture management, arthroscopy, wound management, reconstructive surgery, and total hip and knee replacement.

Dr. Christopher Ferrell

Dr. Christopher Ferrell enjoys all types of minimally invasive procedures as well as neurologic surgery and looks forward to new developments in regenerative medicine. Education

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons-Small Animal
Residency, Surgery, Medvet Medical and Cancer Centers for Pets, Columbus, OH
Internship, Surgery, Dallas Veterinary Surgery Center, TX
Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Affiliated Veterinary Specialists, Maitland, FL
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens
Bachelor of Science, Animal Science, University of Georgia, Athens

Dr. Ross H. Palmer

DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS

Dr. Palmer, a native of Kansas, received his BS and DVM degrees from Kansas State University. He completed an internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City. He received his small animal surgical residency training and an MS degree (Physiology) from the University of Georgia. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. His veterinary career has spanned both academics (Texas A&M and Colorado State University) and private specialty practice (Silicon Valley/Monterey Bay region of California) as a staff surgeon and as a practice owner. Ross is currently a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Colorado State University and the Associate Director of Education at the Translational Medicine Institute. Dr. Palmer seeks to entertain as he educates in order to make learning an enjoyable and memorable experience. He has been an invited speaker at conferences throughout the USA and the world. He was recently named VMX Speaker of the Year. He is the founder of the Complete Course on External Skeletal Fixation educating veterinarians from around the world for 25 years. He’s authored > 50 journal articles and book chapters. He is past President of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS), editorial board member of Today’s Veterinary Practice, board member of the VOS, World Veterinary Orthopaedic Congress, North American Veterinary Conference and the Veterinary Surgery Journal. Ross’ personal passions include international travel, cycling, hiking, fishing, and relaxing with his family in their family’s “off the grid” island cabin in remote northwestern Ontario, Canada

Travel

Northern Colorado and the City of Fort Collins offer many great indoor and outdoor activities to explore. For an up-to-date list of activities, visit their website.

Policies

Participant Cancellation Policy: Course attendees can cancel their registration for an in-person course according to the following

Cancellation more than 60 days prior: Full refund minus 10% processing fee or 100% Future Transfer Credit (FTC).
Cancellation 30-60 days prior: 50% refund or 75% FTC.
Cancellations within 30 days: 50% FTC only. Cancellations due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances will be considered on an individual basis.
Future Transfer Credits can be applied to any course within 365 days of the cancelled course.

Course Cancellation Policy: Course cancellations due to low registration numbers or other circumstances may be announced 35 days or more prior to the course. Full refund of the course registration or 100% Future Transfer Credit (FTC) will apply. We are unable to reimburse for travel expenses incurred.

Course Access Policy:

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