Pelvic Canal Narrowing Caused by Triple Pelvic Osteotomy in the Dog

Summary

During a triple pelvic osteotomy, rotation of the free acetabular segment causes the pubic remnant on the acetabulum to rotate into the pelvic canal. The resulting narrowing may cause complications by impingement on the organs within the pelvic canal. Triple pelvic osteotomies were performed on ten cadaver pelves with pubic remnants equal to 0, 25, and 50% of the hemi-pubic length and angles of acetabular rotation of 20, 30, and 40 degrees. All combinations of pubic remnant lengths and angles of acetabular rotation caused a significant reduction in pelvic canal-width and cross-sectional area, when compared to the inact pelvis. Zero, 25, and 50% pubic remnants result in 15, 35, and 50% reductions in pelvic canal width respectively. Overrotation of the acetabulum should be avoided and the pubic remnant on the acetabular segment should be minimized to reduce postoperative complications due to pelvic canal narrowing.

When performing triple pelvic osteotomies, the length of the pubic remnant on the acetabular segment and the angle of acetabular rotation both significantly narrow the pelvic canal. To reduce post-operative complications, due to narrowing of the pelvic canal, overrotation of the acetabulum should be avoided and the length of the pubic remnant should be minimized.

Keywords

Hip dysplasia - triple pelvic osteotomy - pelvic canal narrowing

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