Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anesthetic Strategies for Closed Reduction of Dislocated Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Scoping Review.
By Knudsen RL et al.·2026·Department of Anesthesiology·View original on Europe PMC →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Plain-English summary
This review looked at different ways to manage anesthesia for fixing dislocated hip replacements, which is a common issue after hip surgery. The researchers found that using sedation (a lighter form of anesthesia) had a success rate of about 81%, while general anesthesia (a deeper form) was more successful at around 95%. However, the studies they reviewed had some limitations, like small sample sizes and inconsistent definitions of success, making it hard to compare results. They also noted that sedation in the emergency department with a specific drug called propofol worked better than other sedatives. Overall, the review highlighted that there is still a lot we don't know about the best anesthesia practices for this procedure, and more high-quality research is needed.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a frequently performed orthopedic procedure, with dislocation being a common complication, often requiring closed reduction. Anesthetic strategies for this vary, and evidence on the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of current strategies is limited. The aim of this review was to synthesize the existing literature on anesthetic strategies for closed reduction of dislocated THA to identify best practice, organizational challenges and potential knowledge gaps.<h4>Methods</h4>A scoping review was designed and conducted in accordance with current scoping review guidelines. Following a systematic literature search, two independent authors screened studies for eligibility and extracted data on key outcomes including procedural success, anesthetic techniques, hospital setting, intraprocedural complications, and resource use.<h4>Results</h4>Fifty-seven studies were included with no randomized controlled trials being identified. Case reports, case letters, literature reviews, group interviews, and survey studies were excluded due to risk of selection bias, resulting in 22 remaining studies. Median closed reduction success rate was 81% (IQR 77%-92%) for sedation and 95% (IQR 60%-96%) for general anesthesia. Sedation in the emergency department with propofol had higher reduction success rates than sedation with other drugs. However, inconsistent definitions, variation in the use of anesthetic drugs and dosing, and small sample sizes limited comparability between studies. Time from admission to procedure was 2.25 h (IQR 2.0-2.95) for sedation and 7.6 h (IQR 5.3-9) for general anesthesia. Length of stay was 1.09 days (IQR 0.84-1.31) for sedation and 3 days (IQR 1.3-3.4) for general anesthesia. Complications were infrequently and inconsistently reported.<h4>Conclusion</h4>A wide range of anesthetic strategies for reduction of dislocated THA were evaluated, with success rates varying considerably across studies. This review demonstrates a substantial gap in the literature regarding the anesthetic management of closed reduction of dislocated THA. High-quality evidence is needed to inform and balance patient-relevant outcomes.<h4>Editorial comment</h4>This scoping review presents an updated exploration of the considerations and alternatives for anesthetic management of cases for closed reduction of hip arthroplasty dislocation and closed reduction.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41582655