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Hip Dysplasia 6910 Carpenter Fire Station Road, Cary, NC 27519 Phone (919) 545-1001 www.quartetvet.com Hip Dysplasia This information sheet is provided to help you understand the condition that has been diagnosed in your pet. We find that many of the finer points that come up during the office visit can be overwhelming. By reading this at your leisure, we hope that you will be able to fully understand the problem. We want you to be aware of how it might affect your pet, treatment alternatives, the care you will need to provide during recovery and the expected prognosis. Please feel free to ask one of our veterinary technicians or surgeons if you are unclear about any of the information contained in this information sheet. Anatomy What is the acetabulum [as-ê-tab’yu-lum] ? The acetabulum (hip socket) is a cup-shaped depression in the external surface of the pelvic bone. What is the femoral head ? The femoral head is the ball shaped proximal end of the long thigh bone (femur) that articulates with the hip socket to form the hip joint. What is hip subluxation ? A subluxation is a partial displacement of the components of the hip joint. What is a hip luxation ? A hip luxation is a complete dislocation of the ball (femoral head) from the hip socket (acetabulum). What is hip dysplasia ? Hip dysplasia is a subluxation of the femoral head in relationship to the acetabulum. This subluxation occurs when the acetabulum is too shallow to accept the femoral head or the soft tissue support is inadequate. Why does hip dysplasia develop ? It is currently accepted that canine hip dysplasia is an inherited disease caused by the interaction of many genes. Environmental factors such as the degree of activity may influence the degree of expression of these genes. How do you identify hip dysplasia ? An initial radiographic evaluation may enable your veterinarian to identify the presence of hip dysplasia. Further orthopedic evaluation may be necessary to determine the extent to which the condition has progressed and the appropriate surgical repair for your pet. What will happen to the hip joint now ? The subluxation (laxity) results in erosion of the joint surfaces as the joint moves. The development of osteoarthritis will decrease the range of motion of the hip joint and increase your pet’s discomfort. Hip Dysplasia www.quartetvet.com page 1 Surgical Repair What happens at surgery ? The goal of the surgical correction is to restore the hip and your pet to the most comfortable functional life possible. There are three main surgical repair techniques; two of which are done at our facility. Your pet’s current hip condition, age, lifestyle and weight will be considered in selecting the most suitable procedure. The three hip surgeries are as follows: 1.) Total Hip Replacement (THR): This procedure is appropriate for adult large to giant breed dogs with moderate to severe hip dysplasia. This surgery involves total replacement of the hip joint, using surgical implants. A prosthetic hip joint is inserted to provide the patient with a comfortable functional joint. 2.) Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO): This surgery is ideal for young trim dogs with hip pain from laxity due to mild hip dysplasia. The TPO involves rotating the axis of the acetabulum in order to keep the ball in the socket. Three bone cuts are made to free the hip socket, then an angulating metal plate is used to reposition the socket 20º , 30º , or 40º, based on previous hip angle measurements. 3.) Femoral Head and Neck Excision (FHO): This procedure is ideal for pets with moderate or severe hip dysplasia, advanced osteoarthritis, and good muscling. The femoral head and neck are removed. The joint capsule tissue is sutured together to provide a cushion between the socket and the remaining femur. The success of this surgery depends on the use of the limb and formation of a scar tissue joint supported by the hip muscles. Post-operative Patient Care After surgery: We implement a protocol of conscientious pain management for our patients to make their stay as comfortable as possible. To properly evaluate your pet’s comfort level and anesthetic recovery, it is necessary in most cases, for your pet to stay with us one night after surgery. Your pet will be monitored 24 hours a day by the doctors and staff members of our facility. At home: We would like you to be prepared for your pet’s return home. Your pet needs six weeks of restricted activity after surgery. Plan to keep your pet in a crate, kennel or small room (like a utility room) when unsupervised. Short, frequent, slow leashed walks on a level surface are recommended. Further activity restrictions and recommendations will be covered at your patient discharge visit. Your pet will have a patch bandage covering the incision and skin sutures. During the first five days that your pet is home you will be asked to give medications every 12 hours for pain, inflammation and prevention of infection. Risks General anesthesia always has some risk. The inhalant anesthetic used in our hospital is isofluorane which is considered the safest for animals and is used in human anesthesia. Our technical staff is highly experienced and thoroughly trained in the administration and monitoring of all types of sedation and general anesthesia. Your pet is carefully monitored by a licensed technician during anesthesia. Additionally, our facility is equipped with the most modern anesthetic and patient monitoring equipment. Prior to surgery, a physical exam is done in addition to laboratory tests that are performed to evaluate the proper metabolic functions necessary to metabolize anesthetics. We take every precaution possible to assure that your pet’s time under anesthesia will be safe. It is very important that you give all post-operative medications as directed and until the time indicated. It is also important to monitor your pet closely to be sure he/she does not chew at the incision. Infection occurs in only 1% of wounds. Indications of a possible post-operative infection may include lethargy, loss of appetite, and discharge from the incision. Evidence of these symptoms should be reported to our staff or your regular veterinarian immediately. Expectations One factor that influences how well your pet recovers is the degree of arthritis and damage already present in the joint. Dogs that have significant erosion and more tissue damage will recover at a slower rate than those who had minimal damage. Obesity is also an important factor in your pet’s recovery. Your regular veterinarian can assist you in choosing the proper diet for your pet. Your conscientious post-operative care will contribute greatly to your pet’s recovery. The medications, activity restrictions and physical therapy we prescribe should be strictly followed. We expect your pet to make slow steady progress after surgery. It is important for you to have your pet re-examined by us six weeks after surgery. At that time we expect to see 60-70% of normal weight bearing on the surgery leg. Gradual and continued progress can be expected with an acceptable return of function at six months post-operatively. The degree of post- operative improvement will be enhanced dramatically by consulting with a rehabilitation expert. We encourage taking advantage of this to enhance your pet’s recovery. Hip Dysplasia www.quartetvet.com page 2 .
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