Dr. Ben Mielke BVSc. (Hons) MVetMedMANZCVS (Surgery) Dip. ECVS MRCVS
Dr. Maja Drozdzynska Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (Pain Management) Dip.ECVAA, MVetMed, DVM ACVAA Founding Fellow – Pain Management
Cruciate disease and medial patellar luxation are two of the most common causes of pelvic limb lameness in dogs, yet stifle surgery remains an area where many general practitioners want more confidence, from pain management through to surgical technique. This two-day hands-on wet-lab is designed to deliver a complete approach to stifle surgery, from induction to closure, combining advanced locoregional analgesia with accurate diagnosis and practical surgical skills. Under the guidance of experienced specialists, delegates will start with epidural blocks and ultrasound- and nerve stimulator-guided femoral and sciatic nerve blocks, then cover the diagnosis of cruciate disease, patellar luxation and non-cruciate causes of lameness. The wet-lab then takes them through lateral and medial arthrotomy, meniscectomy and extracapsular stabilisation, to correcting medial patellar luxation with sulcoplasty, tibial tuberosity transposition and soft tissue reconstruction.
Ben Mielke is an experienced boarded surgeon who has a strong interest in teaching the βtricks and tipsβ that he has learnt throughout his career. He graduated from the University of Melbourne, spent time in mixed practice in Gippsland, completed several internships in the UK and then a surgical residency at the Royal Veterinary College. He loves all aspects of surgery with a particular interest in the management of complex multi-disciplinary cases and in management of trauma. When not working you will find him in the cold water of the Melbourne Bay or riding bikes with his children.
Maja DroΕΌdΕΌyΕska is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA), trained at the Royal Veterinary College, London, with over 10 years of post-specialist clinical experience in leading referral hospitals across the UK and Australia.
