title: Long-term follow-up of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in the dog.
abstract: In a clinical study of 35 dogs with avascular necrosis of the femoral head, 60 per cent were Yorkshire terriers; the mean age of 33 of the dogs at onset of clinical signs was seven months. The dogs had the following signs: muscle atrophy (n = 25), shortening of the affected leg (n = 14), pain on passive movement of the hip joint (n = 28), and crepitation of the hip joint (n = 8). Radiographic findings were irregular density and flattening of the femoral head in combination with degenerative joint disease. Conservative treatment consisted of exercise therapy, and surgical treatment of a standard femoral head and neck excision. In 17 of the dogs the results of therapy were evaluated with the help of a questionnaire. It is concluded that femoral head and neck excision is indicated when conservative treatment fails to lead to clinical improvement within four weeks. Femoral head and neck excision has a good long term prognosis; however, slight intermittent lameness may remain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Piek
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hazewinkel
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wolvekamp
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Nap
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Mey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors