Management of total hip replacement luxation with triple pelvic osteotomy

To report the outcome of dogs treated with triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) for dorsal luxation after total hip replacement (THR).

Retrospective clinical case series.

Seventeen client-owned animals.

Medical records were searched at a single institution for dogs that had been treated with TPO for dorsal THR luxation. The angle of lateral opening (ALO), version angle (VA), and inclination angle (IA) were measured from radiographs after THR and TPO and corrected for pelvic rotation. A paired t test was performed to compare cup orientation after THR and TPO. Functional outcome was assessed at follow-up examination and during telephone interviews.

Eighteen TPOs were performed in 17 dogs, and radiographs were available for 15 cases. Open and/or closed hip reduction with additional stabilization was attempted unsuccessfully in 6 dogs prior to TPO. Triple pelvic osteotomy reduced the ALO by a mean of 23.0 ° ± 10.9 ° (P ≤ .001), increased VA by 9.0 ° ± 4.9 ° (P < .001), and increased IA by 2.9 ° ± 5.8 ° (P = .126). An excellent or good outcome was achieved in 12 dogs. Ventral luxation occurred in 3 dogs, and dorsal luxation occurred in 1 dog after TPO. Triple pelvic osteotomy excessively reduced ALO in 2 dogs with ventral luxation.

Triple pelvic osteotomy with cup retention is a viable alternative to cup revision for treatment of dorsal luxation of cemented and cementless THR. Triple pelvic osteotomy significantly reduces ALO and increases VA. Careful patient selection is recommended because excessive ventroversion can lead to ventral luxation.

Triple pelvic osteotomy offers a revision option that preserves the implant-bone interface and significantly reduces ALO. This technique may be appropriate in dogs with high ALO, luxoid hips, and prior failed revision attempts.