Ingrid Trommelmans, Paul L. Jenkins
Background
Canine hip dysplasia is characterized by joint laxity and progression to osteoarthritis. Double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) is a surgical intervention designed to improve joint congruity by rotating the acetabulum to increase femoral head coverage. The dorsal acetabular rim angle (DARA), measured via computed tomography (CT), serves as an indicator of acetabular conformation, decreasing as hip stability improves. While prior studies have examined DPO effects in cadaveric models, clinical data quantifying achieved acetabular ventroversion relative to plate angle remain limited.
Methods
This retrospective study analyzed 27 client-owned dogs (49 hips) undergoing DPO for hip dysplasia. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and follow-up CT scans were used to measure DARA. Three plate angles (20°, 25°, 30°) were evaluated. Statistical comparisons assessed changes in DARA across time points and plate types, using paired analyses. Inclusion criteria required clinical signs of hip dysplasia with minimal osteoarthritis and confirmed acetabular integrity.
Results
DPO significantly reduced DARA from preoperative values (~16–18°) to postoperative values (~−4°), indicating improved acetabular orientation. The magnitude of DARA reduction varied by plate angle, with median decreases of 23.4° (30° plate), 16.7° (25° plate), and 15° (20° plate). However, achieved ventroversion was consistently less than the intended plate angle. Follow-up assessments showed no significant changes between immediate postoperative and short- or long-term DARA values, suggesting stability of correction over time.
Limitations
The retrospective design and relatively small sample size limit generalizability. Variability in surgical technique, plate placement, and use of different implant manufacturers may have influenced outcomes. Not all dogs had complete follow-up imaging, introducing potential bias. Additionally, DARA assesses acetabular orientation but does not directly evaluate joint contact or long-term functional outcomes.
Conclusions
DPO effectively improves acetabular orientation in dogs with hip dysplasia, but the achieved ventroversion is consistently less than the plate’s nominal angle. The discrepancy varies by plate size and clinical factors. These findings support more informed implant selection but highlight the need for prospective studies correlating radiographic changes with clinical outcomes.
Left dorsal acetabular rim angle at 8 weeks post-double pelvic osteotomy is 0.9 degrees (same patient as in ►Figs. 1 and 2).
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