ESTIMATION OF SOFT-TISSUE INTERPOSITION AFTER FEMORAL-HEAD AND NECK EXCISION IN DOGS USING VENTRODORSAL PELVIC RADIOGRAPHY

Extended-hip ventrodorsal pelvic radiographs performed on 16 dogs afte r femoral head and neck excision, with (n = 8) and without (n = 8) bic eps femoris interpositional muscle flaps, were used to estimate the re lative amount of soft tissue interposition between the femoral ostecto my site and acetabulum. A linear measurement was made of the shortest distance between the femoral ostectomy and the acetabulum. The linear measurement was capable of determining the presence of biceps femoris muscle flaps in most dogs prior to flap atrophy or necrosis, but faile d to be predictive of limb function as determined by functional limb u sage grading, force plate analysis, and thigh circumference measuremen ts.