IMPLANT COMPLICATIONS IN 20 TRIPLE PELVIC OSTEOTOMIES

In 12 dogs with hip dysplasia, 20 triple pelvic osteotomies (eight bil ateral and four unilateral) were performed. Screw loosening, occurring in six of 12 dogs (seven of 20 osteotomies), was the most common comp lication after surgery. Implants loosened from the cranial ilium in si x hemipelvises (30%) and from both fragments in one hemipelvis, two to six weeks (mean = three) after the operation. Medial acetabular displ acement caused pelvic narrowing (6 to 9%, mean = 8%) in three of four dogs. Medial ischial displacement decreased pelvic diameter (11 to 21% , mean = 17%) in four of seven osteotomies. All of the dogs with impla nt failure were treated conservatively with cage rest and in two cases Ehmer slings were used. Although none were lame, gait abnormalities w ere evident in three of seven dogs on follow-up examinations four to 1 2 months (mean = six) later.