Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe hind leg lameness from hip cartilage damage in two dogs
By Rocheleau, P J & Yanchik, A E·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2025·Espanola Animal Hospital, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis and management of femoral head osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with severe limping in the back leg was diagnosed with femoral head osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a joint condition affecting the hip. The vet confirmed the diagnosis through imaging and performed surgery to remove the damaged tissue, followed by a hip replacement four weeks later. After the surgery, the dog's lameness improved significantly, and by three months post-op, it was walking normally without any signs of pain. Another dog with a similar condition also had a successful hip replacement, and both dogs have been doing well for over three years since their surgeries.
People also search for: dog limping hip pain · femoral head osteochondritis dissecans treatment · dog hip replacement recovery
Abstract
Patient 1 was seen for severe pelvic limb lameness and evaluated radiographically and via computed tomography. A diagnosis of femoral head osteochondritis dissecans was obtained. The diagnosis was confirmed arthroscopically and treated with flap removal and abrasion arthroplasty. A micro-total hip arthroplasty was performed 4 weeks later. Patient 2 was also seen for severe pelvic limb lameness and evaluated radiographically. A suspected large osteochondritis dissecans lesion was present. This was confirmed grossly during a total hip arthroplasty procedure and the femoral head submitted for histopathology. In patient 1, the lameness improved from non-weight-bearing to mild lameness at re-evaluation 4 weeks post-operatively. Due to the extent of the lesion, which was confirmed as osteochondritis dissecans by a team of pathologists, revision to micro-total hip arthroplasty was performed. Surgery was uneventful and at 12 weeks post-operatively the patient was fully weight-bearing with no lameness and normal limb function. In patient 2, the lameness immediately resolved after successful management via uncomplicated total hip arthroplasty. Follow-up for both patients at the time of publication exceeds 3 years.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39420742/