Vancouver Animal Hospital: Modification of the Joint by Triple Pelvic Osteotomy or Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis.

In the young growing patient without significant osteoarthritis, the surgeon may recommend trying to improve the joint and stop the subluxation. Subluxation is when the ball (femoral head) begins to move out of the socket (acetabulum) as the animal walks or runs. Subluxation leads to destruction of the cartilage and malformation of the joint as the dog matures. In young dogs, the pain of hip dysplasia comes mainly from the subluxation. This abnormal movement of the joint causes tension on the soft tissues around the joint, resulting in great pain and dog limping. 

The surgical procedure involves twisting the socket (acetabulum) by cutting and rotating the bone. This results in decreased subluxation and therefore less pain. It may also dramatically decrease the progression of arthritis later in life. In very young dogs, this may be achieved with a technique called juvenile pubic symphysiodesis, but for the most benefit, the hip dysplasia must be diagnosed before the dog is 20 weeks of age. In older dogs, modification of the joint is accomplished ina surgical procedure called triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). In this procedure, the pelvis is cut in three places to permit rotation of the acetabulum, to stop the femoral head from subluxating. The success of this procedure depends mainly on careful patient selection . The deciding...