Summary
To date is it unclear whether cementless total hip replacement (THR) in dogs is of
clinical advantage in comparison to cemented THR with regard to lameness improvement.
Thus the aim of this study was to compare objectively the development of the gait
pattern after cemented and cementless THR in dogs. For this purpose, 18 adult dogs
with hip dysplasia underwent computer-based gait analysis on an instrumented treadmill
prior to unilateral THR and then again ten days, four weeks and four months after
surgery. Analysed kinetic parameters were symmetry indices (SI) of vertical ground
reaction forces (GRF), which included peak vertical forces (PFz), mean vertical forces
(MFz), vertical impulse (IFz), and vertical ground reaction forces of the arthroplasty
limbs only. Analysed kinematic parameters were range-of-motion and the flexion and
extension angles of hip, stifle and hock joints. The symmetry indice for PVF, MFz
and IFz decreased to a value less than six in both THR groups four months after surgery,
which is defined as not lame. Improvement in lameness of the arthroplasty limbs during
the examination period of four months was not significantly different between the
cemented and cementless groups. The results suggest that within a short-term observation
period of four months after surgery, neither cementless nor cemented THR have a greater
advantage with regard to lameness improvement. Additional studies with larger pools
of subjects and longer time periods for follow-up examinations are necessary to verify
these findings.
Keywords
Total hip replacement - gait analysis - treadmill - kinetic analysis - kinematic analysis
