FORCE PLATE ANALYSIS OF DOGS WITH BILATERAL HIP-DYSPLASIA TREATED WITH A UNILATERAL TRIPLE PELVIC OSTEOTOMY - A LONG-TERM REVIEW OF CASES

A retrospective case series study was done to determine the long-term outcome of operations upon dogs treated for canine hip dysplasia by me ans of a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). Twenty-four dogs with bilatera l hip dysplasia, that received a unilateral TPO between January 1988 a nd June 1995, were re-examined at the Ontario Veterinary College. The assessment included physical, orthopedic and lameness examinations, st andard blood work, pelvic radiographs and force plate gait analysis. T hey were compared to bilaterally dysplastic dogs that had not been tre ated, and also to normal dogs. Force plate data analysis demonstrated a significant increase in peak vertical force (PVF) and mean vertical force over stance (MVF) in the limb that underwent surgical correction by means of a TPO, when compared to the unoperated hip. It was determ ined that performing a unilateral TPO on a young dysplastic dog result ed in greater forces and weight bearing being projected through the TP O corrected limb when compared to the unoperated limb.