TRIPLE PELVIC OSTEOTOMY - EFFECT ON LIMB FUNCTION AND PROGRESSION OF DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE

The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the outcome of 21 clinical patients treated with triple pelvic osteotomies during the year following surgery. Specific aims included documenting the tim e of and extent of improved limb function as measured by force plate a nalysis, evaluating the progression of degenerative joint disease (DJD ) in the treated and untreated coxofemoral joints, and determining whe ther or not triple pelvic osteotomy resulted in degenerative joint cha nges in the ipsilateral stifle and hock. Twelve dogs were treated unil aterally and nine dogs were treated bilaterally with triple pelvic ost eotomies. There were no differences in mean anteversion angles, angles of inclination, or preoperative DJD between treated hips and Untreate d hips. Degenerative joint disease progressed significantly in all hip s regardless of treatment. Two cases developed hyperextension of their hocks after the triple pelvic osteotomies. However, no radiographic e vidence of DJD was observed for any of the stifles or hocks at any obs ervation time. A significant increase in vertical peak force (VPF) sco res was noted for treated legs by two-to-three months after surgery, w hich continued over time. Untreated legs did not show a significant ch ange in VPF scores over time. No differences were found in progression to higher scores when unilaterally treated legs, first-side treated l egs, and second-side treated legs were compared.