Comparison of intraoperative outcomes in excision arthroplasty with or without partial tenotomy of deep gluteal muscle in dogs

Abstract

Background: Excision arthroplasty is a commonly performed surgical technique for treating coxofemoral luxation in dogs. Favourable outcomes have been reported in dogs up to 15 kg. Aim: This study aimed to compare the intraoperative findings of two surgical approaches i.e., with or without partial deep gluteal muscle tenotomy in the excision arthroplasty in dogs. Methods: A total of 15 dogs having average body weight 15.6 kg (3.5-26) and 29.5 months (6-72) of age were brought to the Veterinary Surgery Clinics at University Veterinary Hospital, Samsun, Turkey with traumatic coxofemoral luxation or femur head/neck fracture. Craniolateral incision was used to approach the craniodorsal aspect of the hip joint in all cases. Myotomy of the superficial gluteal muscle and partial tenotomy of the deep gluteal was performed in one group. While blunt dissection approach was performed for elevation of gluteal muscles in another group. Results: Fifteen dogs (myotomy and tenotomy in 8 dogs and without tenotomy in 7 dogs) were diagnosed having lesions along with coxofemoral luxation in 9 cases, femoral neck fracture in 5 cases and caput femur fracture in 1 case. Partial tenotomy improved the exposure of joint capsule and femur neck. Discussion and Conclusion: The remnants of femoral neck after excision arthroplasty may contact the acetabulum and cause pain in the postoperative period. By applying the partial deep gluteal muscle tenotomy technique, surgeons can readily expose joint capsule, femoral head, femoral neck, and great and lesser trochanter.