Evaluation of portal locations and periarticular structures in canine coxofemoral arthroscopy: a cadaver study

Abstract

SummaryThe objectives of this study were to determine the optimum limb position for the creation of safe arthroscopy portals for coxofemoral arthroscopy, to determine anatomical landmarks for arthroscopy portals, and to determine distances of portals to periarticular neurovascular structures. Eight hemipelves were harvested from adult dogs that died for reasons unrelated to this project and were free of joint pathology as determined by gross examination at the conclusion of the study. The results suggest that the ideal limb position for canine coxofemoral arthroscopy was slight limb adduction, thirty degrees of hip flexion, with the stifle in a neutral position. With the limb in the ideal position, the arthroscope portal was 5 mm cranial (range 0 mm 10 mm) and 15 mm proximal (range 12 mm 18 mm) to the greater trochanter. The instrument portal was 10.2 mm cranial (range 5 mm 18 mm) and 14 mm proximal (range 7 mm 20 mm) to the greater trochanter. The sciatic nerve and the caudal gluteal artery were 9 mm caudal (range 6 mm 15 mm) to the arthroscope portal. This is the first study to evaluate the location of both arthroscopy portals and periarticular neurovascular structures in relation to surrounding surgical landmarks.