Management Plan

First we would like to recommend surgery to repair the patellar luxation. Whether 
congenital or traumatic in origin, medial displacement of the patella tears or stretches the 
joint capsule, retinaculum, and the fascia lata on the lateral aspect of the joint. We have 
several options when it comes to reinforcement of the patella in the trochlea.  Options 
include lateral femorotibial fascial imbrication, medial femoropatellar fascial release, 
trochlear chondroplasty, and fascial transplantation.  If needed we can address quadricep 
realignment.  Two approaches to correcting alignment :  tibial derotation and tibial 
tuberosity transplantation.  

If there is injury to the meniscus, either partial or total meniscectomy can be performed.  
This is often based on case and surgeon preference.  There is experimental evidence that 
removal of the entire meniscus is a significant factor leading to degenerative joint 
disease.  It has therefore been suggested that meniscectomy is not a benign procedure and 
that partial meniscectomy, which leads to less severe degenerative changes in the knee 
joint, may be a preferred procedure in the dog.

Put that dog on a diet. (Be diplomatic!)