TREATMENT OF CANINE HIP-DYSPLASIA - A REVIEW

This article discusses the treatment approaches and recommendations fo r canine hip dysplasia. A search of the literature database MEDLINE (1 969-1994) was conducted and relevant journal articles regarding the me dical and surgical treatment of hip dysplasia were selected and review ed. Dysplastic dogs can be divided, for treatment purposes, into those with no or minimal osteoarthrosis, and those with moderate to severe osteoarthrosis. In young animals with joint laxity and pain, but with no or minimal radiographic evidence of osteoarthrosis, the treatment a pproach is controversial. Conservative management may be effective in the short term, but progressive development of osteoarthrosis occurs a nd clinical signs may manifest at an older age. Options for surgical t reatments in these young dogs include pectineal myectomy, lengthening of the femoral neck, and corrective osteotomies. Corrective osteotomie s are advocated to reestablish joint congruency and prevent developmen t of osteoarthrosis. In the mature osteoarthritic dog, effective conse rvative management depends on the severity of the degenerative joint d isease. Proposed surgical treatments for clinically debilitating hip d ysplasia include biocompatible osteoconductive/shelf arthroplasty; fem oral head and neck excision arthroplasty, with or without muscle sling interposition; and total hip replacement. Although research directly comparing the salvage procedures has not been reported, studies sugges t that total hip replacement is more effective in returning large dogs to full functional weight bearing.