Cementless total hip replacement in an alpaca.
OBJECTIVE
To report management of a chronic slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) in an alpaca using cementless total hip replacement (THR).


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
An 18-month-old, 47 kg alpaca male.


METHODS
Cementless THR was performed in an alpaca with a chronic, right SCFE, and secondary osteoarthritis. Force plate gait analysis was performed before and 8 weeks after surgery. Outcome was determined through clinical evaluation, radiography, and force plate gait analysis.


RESULTS
Cementless THR resulted in marked improvement in the alpaca's comfort level, degree of lameness, and range of motion. On preoperative force plate gait analysis there was decreased contact time (P=.01) and vertical impulse (P<.01) of the affected limb, whereas at 8 weeks postoperatively significant differences in gait analysis between pelvic limbs were not apparent.


CONCLUSIONS
THR using a BioMedtrix canine cementless modular prosthesis restored hip function in an alpaca with coxofemoral osteoarthritis from chronic SCFE.


CONCLUSIONS
THR may be an appropriate treatment for selected traumatic and degenerative conditions of the coxofemoral joint in alpacas.
Ortved
Kyla F
KF
Cornell University Hospital for Animals and Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. ko222@cornell.edu
Krotscheck
Ursula
U
Collins
Samantha A
SA
Rawlinson
Jeremy J
JJ
Dyce
Jonathan
J
D000818:Animals; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002161:Camelids, New World; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary