Surgical repair of a coxofemoral luxation in an alpaca

A female breeding alpaca with acute lameness of the left hindleg was diagnosed with a craniodorsal coxofemoral luxation. Repair was achieved using extracapsular stabilisation. Two nylon sutures were passed through a hole drilled in the femoral neck and anchored to the dorsal acetabulum using two screws and two spiked washers. A metal crimp was used to tighten and maintain the sutures. Postoperatively the alpaca was confined to a stall for 4 weeks before being returned to a paddock. At 6 months after surgery the alpaca was free of lameness and was successfully mated.