title: Canine hip dysplasia treated by juvenile pubic symphysiodesis. Part II: two year clinical results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical effects of juvenile pubic symphysiodesis (JPS) treatment in hip dysplasia-prone puppies with comparison to similar untreated control puppies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled clinical case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine dysplastic puppies, of which six were part of the control group, with a positive Ortolani or hip distraction index (DI)≥0.40.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following eight clinical tests were evaluated preoperatively, and at one and two years postoperatively: Ortolani, hip reduction angle (HRA), gait evaluation, osteoarthritis, hip pain, and three Norberg angles (angle-extended mode [N-OFA], angle-compression mode [N-COM], and angle-distracted mode [N-DIS]). Juvenile pubic fusion (JPS) was performed by unipolar electro-cautery at 12 to 24 weeks of age; the control puppies received a sham operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the JPS puppies, the mean osteoarthritis level did not significantly increase (11%). There was a 74% reversal of preoperative positive Ortolani signs. Hip reduction angle, DI and N-DIS also improved significantly. Only N-DIS fully detected Norberg angle laxity. Within the control group, osteoarthritis increased significantly (55%) with no improvement in Ortolani incidence, N-OFA or N-COM angles. A decrease in HRA and DI was associated with increased osteoarthritis levels. Signs of hip pain increased by 33%, which was not significant. Dogs with initial severe hip laxity (DI≥0.70) experienced progressive osteoarthritis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In JPS dogs with preoperative mild to moderate hip laxity (DI = 0.40-0.69), insignificant osteoarthritis occurred at two years. Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis surgery also improved other clinical criteria (Ortolani, HRA, hip pain, N-DIS). Osteoarthritis was generally not prevented by JPS in dogs with initial severely lax hips (DI≥0.70). Juvenile pubic symphysiodesis surgery at 12 to 24 weeks of age was an effective and safe pre-emptive bilateral treatment for mild to moderate hip dysplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. duelandt@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dueland
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Patricelli
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Linn
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Crump
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006619:Hip Dysplasia, Canine / Q000601:surgery*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000601:surgery; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors