BVSC + Orthopaedic Surgery
It is not just putting the bones back together but working with the magic of orthopaedic biology

BVSCOrthopaedicSurgeryRound+ Orthopaedic Surgery at BVSC 

An orthopaedic surgeon is a surgeon who has been educated and trained in the diagnosis and preoperative, operative, and postoperative treatment of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones, ligaments and tendons, and muscles. Our surgeons are always at the forefront of their specialty. Treating animals with broken bones, torn ligaments and tendons is not a simple matter of applying principles of carpentry. We work with the intricate biological systems in animals and respect the critical importance of treating the whole patient. We carefully evaluate any concurrent conditions such as pre-existing diseases, soft tissue injuries and shock to implement timely orthopaedic intervention to maximise recovery and minimize complications and pain.

 Our surgeons provide our patients with advanced imaging support using digital radiography, high definition ultrasonography, high speed computerised tomography (CT) and high field magnetic image intensification (MRI 3 & 7T). We also have the latest in arthroscopy equipment from Storz (www.karlstorz.com), a leader in endoscopy and arthroscopy equipment. Arthroscopic joint surgery, used for conditions such as elbow dysplasia and osteochondritis dissecans, allows a highly magnified view and treatment with fine instruments through key-hole incisions.

Cranial cruciate ligament rupture and medial patella luxation are two common orthopaedic diseases of the knee that benefit from specialist surgical treatment. Our surgeons are trained in a variety of techniques and we take the time to help owners make informed decisions BVSC FixinTraumaSurgery01about which treatment is the best fit for their pet.

A variety of orthopaedic systems are available at BVSC to ensure the best implant is chosen to match the clinical scenario. Locking plates (locking compression plate, Fixin and string of pearls), External Skeletal Fixation (linear, circular and hybrid), Interlocking nail and a variety of other implants such as pins, wire, anchors, toggles and synthetic ligaments are used at BVSC.  

Locking plate technology is gold standard for fracture repair and other orthopaedic procedures. The locking mechanism provides gentle biological healing as the plate does not need to be compressed against the bone. The plates can be used in a minimally invasive application to further maximize healing and minimize complications. The locking screws have larger core diameters compared to non-locking screws which significantly decreases failure by bending and shear forces. Our surgeons are the only specialists in Queensland using Fixin® (www.intrauma.com), an advanced locking plate system that utilises titanium screw bushing as the locking mechanism. These plates allow us to perform amazing surgery on tiny dogs and cats as well as very large dogs. 

Fixin ® locking plate system used at Brisbane Veterinary Specialist Centre

+ Patient care does not stop with the surgery.  Our renowned specialty care with compassion continues into the follow-up period encompassing rehabilitation and full integration with our physiotherapy services.

Read about our Surgical Procedures

At BVSC our surgeons are specialised in many different surgical procedures.

Our orthopaedic surgeons are highly trained and use traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery and nonsurgical means to treat trauma of the musculoskeletal system, spinal diseases, degenerative diseases, infections, tumours and congenital or developmental disorders - problems with tissues such as the bones, joints, ligaments tendons and muscles.
Our surgeons are trained in the latest techniques to operate on the delicate soft tissues of the respiratory tract including the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, the liver, the urinary tract as well as other intrathoracic and intra-abdominal organs and the skin.
Whether it is to decompress a damaged spinal cord due to intervertebral disc rupture or to remove a tumour from the brain, spinal cord or nerve, our surgeons are here to get the job done and have the equipment and prowess to provide the best care for your pet with surgical neurological disease.
Minimally invasive surgery uses very small incisions to reduce trauma to the body and speed recovery times. Fine, specifically designed instruments and endoscopy equipment is used to allow the surgeon to see using our high definition camera system. This is a growing area in veterinary medicine and BVSC is on the cutting edge.
Effective cancer treatment relies on the surgical oncologist performing the correct procedure accurately the first time around. We work closely with our specialist colleagues in medicine, radiation oncology, radiology, anaesthesiology, critical care and pathology to get the best outcome for pets with cancer.