Postoperative Complications of Double Pelvic Osteotomy Using Specific Plates in 305 Dogs.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this clinical retrospective study was to describe the postoperative complications and associated factors of double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) using DPO plates. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Medical records were searched for dogs that underwent unilateral or bilateral DPO using DPO plates from February 2009 to October 2018 and were re-evaluated for a minimum of 1 to 2 months postoperatively. A variety of commercially available, specific DPO plates were used. Complications were determined during the immediate postoperative period and at the time of the clinical and radiographic re-evaluations done 1 and/or 2 months postoperatively. RESULTS:  A total of 458 DPO (226 right, 232 left) performed in 305 dogs satisfied the inclusion criteria. Double pelvic osteotomy plates from eight different manufacturers were used: Fixin ( = 160), Kyon ( = 154), New Generation Device ( = 63), Hofmann ( = 61), Veterinary Instrumentation ( = 12), DePuy Synthes ( = 4), Porte ( = 3) and Koenigsee ( = 1). Mean age of the dogs was 6.2 months (range: 5-8 months), and the body weight ranged from 10 to 47 kg. Overall, a total of 42 complications occurred in 38 DPO (8.2%). Complications included greenstick fracture of the ischium in 14 DPO (3%), isolated screw loosening in 13 DPO involving 16 of a total of 2,947 screws (0.5%), isolated screw breakage in 4 DPO involving 5 of 2,947 screws (0.1%), incomplete ilium fracture in 3 DPO (0.6%), partial caudal plate avulsion in 3 DPO (0.6%), iatrogenic sciatic neuropraxia in two DPO (0.4%), suspected surgical site infection (SSI) in 1 DPO (0.2%) and persistent pain and lameness caused by the implant in 2 DPO (0.4%). The case of suspected SSI and the two cases of persistent pain were classified as major complications (3 DPO, 0.6%), requiring medical and surgical intervention, respectively, whereas other 39 complications in 35 DPO were classified as minor, not requiring treatment (7.6%). CONCLUSION:  Double pelvic osteotomy using DPO plates appears to be a safe surgical option for the treatment of hip dysplasia in growing dogs; no catastrophic complications were reported and the incidence of complications (0.6% major complications and 7.6% minor complications) was low. This study showed that DPO using DPO plates and proper technique was safe in 92% of cases. The only two factors found to be significantly associated with the development of complications after DPO were the laterality (left-sided or right-sided) and body weight.