Hip Dislocation

I wasn't sure what to write about today - hey, it's all new to me.  But then when our day was racing with continuous stream of client concerns and we were operating on a patient over the lunch break it hit me.  I need to talk about that patient - the one we were operating on over lunch.

Hip dislocation or luxation.  Many people have likely heard of someone experiencing a luxated joint.  Well, this injury commonly occurs after some form of trauma - usually in our field involving a vehicle.  Sometimes we can manipulate the limb back in to joint, but the longer the patient has been dislocated the less likely this will be successful.  Generally we need access within 12 hours for the best chances of correction.  Even then, due to the need to place the patient in a sling (and our patients are animals) for several weeks it may fail.

So, a limp that is non-weight bearing without direct explanation (wound, nail injury, etc.) warrants an immediate medical examination.

And you may have gathered that we were unable to correct or reduce the luxation.  Let me talk about one of his contributing reasons for this injury.  He was a 1 year old intact male dog (not neutered).  He was roaming his territory.  He also presented 2 days after the incident.

~Dr. Sparke

Roseland Animal Hospital

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