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 rather than fighting their equipment. 

About Dr. Dycus:

 Dr. David Dycus, who is the founder and board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Fusion Veterinary Orthopedics in the Washington DC area. Along with actively practicing orthopedic surgery and sports medicine he is also the founder of Ortho Vet Consulting where he has lectured and taught courses all over the world including introduction and advanced TPLO courses.