Decision-making in the EU

Abstract

In Practice ● @BV -?) -L â , -* -?) -L 20 0 6 570 ANATOMY OF THE HIP The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint between the acetabulum and the femoral head. The acetabulum has a semilunar (C-shaped) articular surface, which is open caudoventrally at the acetabular notch and bridged by the transverse ligament. The non-articular acetabular fossa sits within the centre of the semilunar surface, and is the point of origin of the ligament of the femoral head (previously known as the teres ligament). This liga-ment is a large structure that inserts at a non-articular depression in the centre of the femoral head, the fovea. The primary stabilisers of the hip are the ligament of the femoral head, the joint capsule and the dorsal acetabular rim. Loss of two or more of these supporting structures results in hip luxation. HIP luxations are the most common traumatic luxations seen in small animal practice, but they can be difficult to manage successfully. The high risk of recurrence following closed reduction means that surgery is often indicated, although it is frequently not clear which of the large number of surgical procedures described is most appropriate. This article presents a logical guide to decision making in the management of hip luxation cases, from diagnosis through to surgical treatment, with those surgical procedures of most value being described in detail.