Caudoventral hip luxation in 160 dogs (2003-2023): A multicenter retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: To describe patient characteristics, etiology, treatment outcomes and complications of caudoventral hip luxation (CvHL) in a large cohort of dogs and investigate factors associated with nonsurgical treatment outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective case series. ANIMAL POPULATION: A total of 160 client-owned dogs (170 limbs). METHODS: Medical records from 2003 to 2023 were reviewed for signalment, history, treatment outcomes and complications. Logistic regression was performed to investigate factors associated with nonsurgical treatment outcome. RESULTS: Low-trauma accidents accounted for 82.9% of cases. Over-represented breeds included poodles (38.1%) and poodle crosses (11.3%). On a per-treatment basis, success rates of closed reduction alone, closed reduction/Ehmer sling, closed reduction/hobbles were 9.1%, 15.2% and 48.8%, respectively. When accounting for repeated attempts using closed reduction alone, Ehmer sling, or hobbles, eventual success rate increased to 10.3%, 18.5% and 61.8%, respectively. Success rate for toggle rod stabilization was 88.2%. Complication rate of hobbles was 31.9% versus 60.6% for Ehmer slings. Use of hobbles (OR:7.62, p = .001, CI:2.23-26.05), treatment by specialist surgeons (OR:2.68, p = .047, CI: 1.01-7.08) and increasing age (OR:1.15, p < .005, CI: 1.08-1.23) were associated with successful nonsurgical treatments. CONCLUSION: Low-trauma etiology, and poodles and their crosses were over-represented in cases of CvHL. Success rate of nonsurgical treatments was lower than previously reported. Hobbles were 7.6 times more likely to be successful when compared to dogs treated without hobbles and remains a viable noninvasive first-line treatment. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE/IMPACT: Hobbles are recommended as a low-morbidity first-line treatment for CvHL. An Ehmer sling is not recommended. Toggle rod stabilization is an effective surgical treatment for CvHL.

Stifle arthrodesis in a feline pelvic limb amputee.

Case summary: A domestic shorthair cat presented to the Animal Referral Hospital (Brisbane, Australia) after having the left pelvic limb incorrectly amputated. The cat was unable to ambulate on the remaining right pelvic limb due to a chronically subluxated stifle. A stifle arthrodesis was performed on the right pelvic limb to manage the injury. Follow-up radiographs performed 5 months postoperatively demonstrated stifle arthrodesis with no detectable complications. The owner reported that aside from some difficulties in toileting, the cat had a good quality of life and was capable of performing the majority of daily activities. Stifle arthrodesis in a feline pelvic limb amputee appears to be a viable treatment option. After a period of rehabilitation and adaptation, the cat in the case report has been able to lead a near-normal lifestyle. Relevance and novel information: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the outcome and complications associated with stifle arthrodesis in a feline pelvic limb amputee. This is also the first report of stifle arthrodesis in a cat using the bilateral plating technique.

The Effect of Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy on Stifle Extensor Mechanism Load: A Canine Ex Vivo Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tibial plateau levelling osteotomy on stifle extensor mechanism load in an ex vivo cruciate-intact canine cadaveric model. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo mechanical testing study. ANIMALS: Cadaveric canine pelvic limbs (n = 6). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 21-mm tibial radial osteotomy was performed on pelvic limbs (n = 6) prior to being mounted into a load-bearing limb press. The proximal tibial segment was incrementally rotated until the anatomical tibial plateau angle had been rotated to at least 1°. The proportional change in stifle extensor mechanism load between the anatomical tibial plateau angle and the neutralized (∼6.5 degrees) and over-rotated (∼1°) tibial plateau angle was analysed using a one-sample t-test against a null hypothesis of no change. A p-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There was no significant change in the stifle extensor mechanism load from the anatomical tibial plateau angle (308 N [261-355 N]) to the neutralized tibial plateau angle (313 N [254-372 N]; p =.81), or from the anatomical tibial plateau angle to the over-rotated tibial plateau angle (303 N [254-352 N; p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy does not significantly alter stifle extensor mechanism load at either a neutralized or over-rotated tibial plateau angle in our cruciate-intact model.