TREATMENT OF A COXOFEMORAL LUXATION SECONDARY TO UPWARD FIXATION OF THE PATELLA IN A SHETLAND PONY

A nine-year-old Shetland pony gelding, with a history of recurrent upw ard fixation of the patella, suddenly developed severe lameness in its right hindlimb, A luxation of the coxofemoral joint was diagnosed by a clinical and radiographic examination. The initial treatment of the luxation by closed reduction was not maintained, and the limb was plac ed in an Ehmer sling for four days after a second closed reduction. Th is allowed the femoral head to remain in the acetabulum, although a pe rsistent subluxation remained, presumably owing to a rupture of the ro und ligament. The pony remained comfortable at pasture for over two ye ars after the reduction, until osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint caused it to become severely lame and it had to be euthanased.