Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
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Behind the scenes at a surgery clinic
Sep 05, 2009 07:24PM
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Do you know the most common procedures surgeons perform? I just tried to find the answer.
Who cares? For one, I was just curious.
More importantly though, it could possibly make readers aware of what is truly common, and even better, what could be avoided. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of information.
Finally, it would give interested readers some insight about what happens inside a surgical practice.
Here are the top 5:
1. ACL surgery
2. Abdominal surgery
3. Skin tumor removal
4. Fractures
5. Luxations (dislocations)
So there you go. The top 5 are probably fairly representative of most surgery clinics.
Other common surgeries would include laryngeal paralysis, “brachycephalic syndrome” surgery (in dogs with a flat face such as the Bulldog), P/U or perineal urethrostomy in cats who cannot pee, anal sac tumor removal, back surgery for a slipped disc.
The list could go on.
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
Who cares? For one, I was just curious.
More importantly though, it could possibly make readers aware of what is truly common, and even better, what could be avoided. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of information.
Finally, it would give interested readers some insight about what happens inside a surgical practice.
Here are the top 5:
1. ACL surgery
2. Abdominal surgery
3. Skin tumor removal
4. Fractures
5. Luxations (dislocations)
So there you go. The top 5 are probably fairly representative of most surgery clinics.
Other common surgeries would include laryngeal paralysis, “brachycephalic syndrome” surgery (in dogs with a flat face such as the Bulldog), P/U or perineal urethrostomy in cats who cannot pee, anal sac tumor removal, back surgery for a slipped disc.
The list could go on.
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
Interesting! My GP said 10% of his time was spent removing skin cancers or melanoma's. It seems like there could be considerable cross over between human and animal (pet).
It's all relative.
I think I read somewhere that ACL (knee) surgery is 5 times more common in dogs than in people.
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
I think I read somewhere that ACL (knee) surgery is 5 times more common in dogs than in people.
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
Also remember there is going to be a difference in which type of clinic it is. Your general vet isn't going to have the same ratios as a full surgery clinic.
And for me, I need to find a surgery clinic because in all the time I've volunteered at clinics, I've never been able to watch any of those surgeries. The most interesting were the slipping kneecap on a cat (I guess could be grouped under number 5), emergency C-section and a pyometra dog.
Oh well, :D Keep saving lives Dr. Zeltman.
And for me, I need to find a surgery clinic because in all the time I've volunteered at clinics, I've never been able to watch any of those surgeries. The most interesting were the slipping kneecap on a cat (I guess could be grouped under number 5), emergency C-section and a pyometra dog.
Oh well, :D Keep saving lives Dr. Zeltman.
You're right Tammy, the numbers would vary at a general practice.
As the title implied, I was strictly talking about a surgery clinic.
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
As the title implied, I was strictly talking about a surgery clinic.
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
Yea, I noticed that after I responsed, lol
Regarding knee surgery being more common in dogs than people -- does this statistic correct for the fact that dogs have four knees and people only have two? If not, maybe the stat really should be 2 1/2 times more likely rather than 5 times more likely. LOL
Well, Annie, with all due respect... dogs (and cats) only have 2 knees...
We'll all the same, really.
We all have 1 shoulders, 1 elbow and 1 wrist in each arm - or front leg in a pet.
And we all have 1 hip, 1 knee and 1 ankle in each leg - or back leg in a pet.
Don't feel alone, it's a common misconception, I hear that from my clients all the time!
I hope this little factoid changes your life!
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
We'll all the same, really.
We all have 1 shoulders, 1 elbow and 1 wrist in each arm - or front leg in a pet.
And we all have 1 hip, 1 knee and 1 ankle in each leg - or back leg in a pet.
Don't feel alone, it's a common misconception, I hear that from my clients all the time!
I hope this little factoid changes your life!
Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS
Pet surgeon and author of a free, weekly newsletter for true pet lovers, available at DrPhilZeltzman.com
The knee thing was so lol!(forgive my frivolity)...unless you have a pet bee in which case the bees' knees equal 6.
(excuse me but I just have to post this!)
(excuse me but I just have to post this!)
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