OPEN REDUCTION AND STABILIZATION OF COXOFEMORAL JOINT LUXATION IN DOGS AND CATS, USING A STAINLESS-STEEL ROPE INSERTED VIA A VENTRAL APPROACH TO THE HIP-JOINT

Open reduction and stabilisation of coxofemoral joint luxation was mad e via a ventral approach to the hip joint in dogs and cats, using a tr ansarticular stainless steel rope. A feature of the procedure is trans articular penetration of the rope from the pelvic cavity to the femora l neck by guidance with a guide wire which was previously inserted fro m the femoral neck into the pelvic cavity and by detection of the guid e wire in the pelvic cavity by use of forceps connected to an alarm-oh mmeter. Forty-seven animals (37 dogs and 10 cats) with acute and simpl e coxofemoral luxation were treated and postoperatively maintained in cage rest without external fixation. Most of the animals regained an a lmost normal gait within several days.