Show Notes
In this episode of the Simini TPLO Roadmap Series, Carl Damiani and Dr. David Dycus explore the critical transition from digital planning to real surgical execution. They discuss how experienced surgeons design TPLO plans that tolerate small deviations, prioritize fixation and stability over geometric perfection, and account for the dynamic forces present in live patients. The episode introduces practical concepts like osteotomy geometry, segment control, load transfer, and a pre-operat...
More from Simini TPLO Roadmap Series
In this episode of the Simini TPLO Roadmap Series, Carl Damiani is joined by Brian Trumpatori, DVM, DACVS, from Arizona Canine Orthopedics & Sports Medicine for a deep technical discussion on one of the most important moments in TPLO surgery: the osteotomy. For many surgeons learning TPLO, the cut may seem like a single step in the manual. But in reality, those 45 seconds can define the entire case. Dr. Trumpatori walks through how he thinks about translating the radiographic plan to the ...
What actually happens after you complete a TPLO course and start operating independently? In this episode, Carl Damiani and Dr. Ken Bruecker break down the first-year learning curve, from early cognitive overload and strict reliance on checklists to the emergence of pattern recognition, technique drift, and developing clinical judgment. The discussion focuses on case selection, maintaining discipline as comfort increases, recognizing plateaus, and knowing when to refer—highlighting that...
The moment you review your post-op TPLO radiographs can be one of the most stressful parts of the procedure. In this episode, Carl Damiani and Dr. Ken Bruecker break down how to evaluate your results with structure instead of emotion, focusing on the “5 A’s” of assessment and how to separate cosmetic imperfections from true mechanical risk. The discussion covers when to act versus when to observe, how to integrate radiographic findings with patient function, and how to communicate results con...
The first independent TPLO isn’t just a technical milestone—it’s a shift in judgment and responsibility. In this episode, Carl Damiani and Dr. Kevin Benjamino discuss how surgeons move from supervised training to operating alone, focusing on case selection, pre-operative planning, and the mindset required to avoid early catastrophic mistakes. Rather than relying on confidence, the discussion emphasizes building structural readiness through disciplined preparation, predictable case selec...
Even well-trained surgeons can feel unexpected stress when performing their first independent TPLO cases. In this episode, Carl Damiani and Dr. David Dycus explore why early surgical difficulty is often driven not by anatomy or technical skill, but by equipment familiarity, operating room setup, and cognitive load. The discussion focuses on standardizing tools, rehearsing the surgical environment, and recognizing system failures before incision so surgeons can focus on the patient rathe...