Hip replacement of the ovine hip with a zero dislocation rate

Ovine and caprine animals are frequently used as in vivo models for both total hip replacement and hemiarthroplasty. Historically the complication rate, particularly the dislocation rate, has been high. In studies involving animals it is imperative to keep complications to a minimum, both to reduce the distress of the individual animals, and also to keep the number of animals used in each study to the absolute minimum required. We describe an approach that has had a dislocation rate of zero out of 69 hips (mean follow-up 11 months). The authors recommend this approach in ovine and caprine studies of the hip joint. (Hip International 2005; 15: 230-4).