Exaggerated femoral anteversion and acetabular development: experimental study in growing dogs

Femoral excessive anteversion caused by femoral osteotomy in growing dogs is an accurate dynamic model of experimental acetabular dysplasia. Radiographic and CT scan examinations were performed throughout the growing period. Evolution showed an incomplete femoral detorsion. It induced acetabular developmental modification leading to an anterior and superior acetabular dysplasia. At the end of the growing period, hips were not dislocated, but signs of femoral and acetabular osteoarthritis were obvious, which shows the importance of mechanical force modification in the creation of experimental osteoarthritis. The links between hip osteoarthritis and exaggerated femoral anteversion are discussed. Might acetabular dysplasia be secondary to femoral anteversion, which could justify a corrective osteotomy during childhood? Our experiment leads to a better comprehension of this phenomenon.