Surgical Treatment of a Saggital Intraarticular Femoral Head Fracture with Coxofemoral Dislocation in Two Mature Dogs

Abstract

Neaas, A., M. Dvofiak: Surgical Treatment of a Saggital Intraarticular Femoral Head Fracture with Coxofemoral Dislocation in Two Mature Dogs. Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 261-265. The surgical treatment of two cases of craniodorsal hip luxation with an associated saggital intraarticular fracture through the femoral head is described. The method of repair consisted of an open reduction via a craniolateral approach to the hip joint and internal fixation of the fracture with a lag screw and a Kirschner wire. One case was complicated by an ipsilateral complex femoral fracture and contralateral luxation of the hip joint with avulsion of a small bone fragment from the femoral head. Both dogs were clinically sound ten to twelve months after surgery. Hip joint, luxation, trauma, fracture Two types of intraarticular femoral head fractures are seen associated with coxofemoral dislocation in mature dogs. Each type presents a challenge to veterinary surgeon to achieve a satisfactory outcome. The more common type involves avulsion of a small portion of the femoral head, which is normally attached to the round ligament. The fragment is too small to be adequately stabilized and its presence may result in failure of attempts at treatment of the dislocated hip by closed reduction. Excision of the fragment is indicated at the time of open reduction of the hip. The second, less common type, is when dislocation of the hip is associated with a much larger saggital fracture through the femoral head. Only a small number of papers have been published, which discuss the methods of treating this more complex injury ( Vernon and