Equine coxofemoral luxations: 17 cases (1975-1990)

The medical records of 17 horses with coxofemoral luxation were examined. Ponies and miniature horses were overrepresented. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 7 years (range 1 month to 25 years). Seventy percent were female. Severe trauma, such as a fall or being kicked by another horse, was a common etiology. Thirty-five percent had other orthopedic injuries associated with the luxation. Closed reduction, with the use of a mechanically assisted calving device, was attained in 5 cases but reluxation occurred shortly afterward in 4 of these. Varying surgical techniques were used in 3 cases but none were successful in maintaining reduction. Ponies and miniature horses are better able to handle chronic lameness and therefore had a better long-term survival rate than horses with a chronically luxated coxofemoral joint.