JOINT HIP DENERVATION IN DOGS WITH DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE SECONDARY TO DYSPLASIA

Abstract

The hip denervation technique has been performed in dysplasic dogs, demonstrating to be efficient in the relief of pain. The objective of this work was to evaluate pain relief, improvement of joint function, muscular rehabilitation and instability progression in 10 dysplasic dogs submitted to the hip joint denervation technique. The grading of the clinical presentation was performed according to specific evaluation of walking, biped station, rotation with external abduction, subluxation and iliopsoas. The muscular rehabilitation was evaluated through the circumference of the thigh and physical examination. The instability was evaluated through the values of distraction index (DI). In the claudication graduation and the biped station test, we verified that there was a significant reduction after one month post-surgery. In the abduction with external rotation tests, there was a reduction in pain after the seventh day; in the iliopsoas test there was a significant reduction in pain in all the post-surgery times. There was a significant increase in thigh circumference after the seventh day. We observed that 90% of the articulations had a reduction in their DI, reflecting an improvement of their instability. The technique is efficient in the relief of pain, muscular rehabilitation after the improvement of the ability to exercise, and in reduction of instability, being the cause of owner satisfaction.

KEYWORDS: denervation; dysplasia; muscular rehabilitation; pain.