Dislocated hip?

[leximax]

Does anyone have any information on yorkies and dislocated hips? I think Tia has dislocated hers and she's going to the vet tomorrow & I'm worried. She has been limping on her back leg and it feels like her bone is out of place. I don't thimk it's broke but she doesn't really put weight on it at all unless she's runing she uses it for a little support. I feel so bad and will let you know what happens tomorrow!

[SDphotoGrl99]

Good luck!

[Jaspermom]

Poor little Tilly! Definitely keep us in touch!

Dreama and Wosie send puppy kisses!

[MadisonsMommy]

Sorry to hear about Tia! Madison dislocated hers a couple months back. We took her to the vet and he gave her some anti-inflammatory meds that she took for about 3 or 4 days (I don’t remember exactly) and also a calcium supplement that we still give her every other day…apparently it will make her joints stronger so this won’t happen again. He did tell us that once it dislocates, it will happen more frequently (the only way to avoid that would be with surgery), but luckily it hasn’t happened again!!

Hopefully, Tia will have the same good luck as we have had with Madison!!!! Please keep us posted on what happens!!!

[Jaspermom]

Sorry, I was reading about Tilly in a previous post... I hope TIA feels better soon!

To make it up to you for trying to rename your pup, here's some info I found on hip dislocation:

The hip joint is a “ball and socket” type joint attaching the rear leg to the trunk of the body. The ”ball” part is the head of the first long bone of the rear leg – the Femur – and the socket is the part of the pelvis known as the “acetabulum.” The femoral head is held in place by a thick ligament called the “capital” ligament or simply the “round ligament of the femoral head.” Also keeping the joint in place is the upper rim of the acetabulum and the fact that the whole joint is enclosed in a fibrous capsule. The local hip muscles also help support the joint.

Hip dislocation is the common term for the separation of the femoral head from the pelvic acetabulum. The more medical term is “hip luxation” and you will probably hear your veterinarian use this term.

In order for the hip to luxate, trauma must be severe enough to break the capital ligament. The femur almost always luxates the same way: up and forward.

The Patient
A radiograph is necessary to confirm the luxation but
it will be clear simply from looking at the patient (assuming he or she is walking) that a major orthopedic problem exists. The patient will not be bearing weight on the affected leg and the leg may actually seem shorter than the other three.

If the luxation is not corrected, a false joint, consisting of scarring and fibrous attachment, may form and the patient may begin to bear some weight again. False joints of this sort are not very strong and do not afford normal range of motion but may be adequate for a very small patient such as an indoor cat or sedentary toy breed dog. Surgical correction should provide a better
result, however.

The Radiographs
Sometimes it is possible to tell by feeling the joint whether or not it is luxated. Radiographs are still necessary in patient evaluation. This is because there is additional information to be obtained beyond simply whether the joint is luxated. Sometimes when the capital ligament tears, a chip of bone from is femoral attachment comes off as well. If the luxated hip were simply popped back into place with the chip in the joint, the chip would forever be trapped to grind painfully inside the joint. Instead, it should be surgically trimmed.

Radiographs are also important to assess hip dysplasia (the shallow acetabula of this condition may impede joint placement or may determine “off the bat” that a surgical correction is needed. If the patient is a puppy or kitten, there is a growth plate (an area where the bone is growing) that may have been damaged in the trauma and this must be assessed. In short, the status of the hip beyond know whether or not it is luxated is important in selecting therapy.

Closed Reduction
“Reduction” is the act of putting the bones of the luxated joint back where they belong. “Closed” reduction means that the bones are put back without surgically “opening” the joint. If the hip appears to be normal other than the luxation, it is probably worth at least attempting closed reduction; although, after 3 days, local muscle contraction makes successful reduction very difficult. In cats, closed reduction is problematic as the reduced hip frequently pops out again. Still, as mentioned, closed reduction is a non-invasive procedure and is worth a try if the hip is otherwise normal.

To reduce the luxated hip, the patient must be anesthetized to relax the local muscles. The femoral head is manipulated back into place (often with a satisfying “pop”). Radiographs confirm the reduction and a special sling is placed to keep the hip bones together while the joint capsule around them heals.

This may sound simple enough but it is often unsuccessful. Large dogs are difficult to manipulate. Cats tend to promptly reluxate their hips. Do not be surprised if closed reduction proves impossible and surgery is recommended.

The sling, called an “Ehmer” sling, involves flexing up the knee and taping the foot to the thigh. The sling stays on approximately 1-2 weeks, while the patient leads a confined lifestyle indoors at home. The bandages must stay clean and dry. After the sling has been on an appropriate time the sling is removed and confinement continues another 2-4 weeks.

Surgery
There are many techniques of surgical treatment that might be employed in keeping the bones where they are supposed to be. In a perfect situation, the hip is reduced and only a small tear in the joint capsule is present. Sewing the joint capsule back together hold the femoral head where it belongs in the acetabulum.

In a less perfect situation, the joint capsule is too damaged to simply sew back together. In this situation, screws can be placed around the acetabulum and a hole drilled through the neck of the femur. A stiff suture can run around the screws and through the femoral neck holding the femoral head in place.

Another technique uses a pin passing from the femur, out the femoral head and into the bone of the acetabulum like an axle.

There are numerous methods and the surgeon will choose the most appropriate. Expect a sling as described to be necessary for at least a week and confinement for at least a couple of weeks after that to be necessary.

The Femoral Head Ostectomy
This surgery is commonly referred to as the “FHO” and is best used for smaller dogs (50 lbs or less) or very active dogs. Here, the femoral head is cut off and removed, allowing the joint to heal as a “false joint” (just a capsule connecting the two bones but no actual bone to bone contact. If the dog is not carrying too much weight, a false joint is strong enough. If the dog is very active, a false joint will form quickly. The pet typically does not want to use the leg for the first 2 weeks but should at least be partially using the leg after 4-6 weeks. The leg should be used nearly normally after a couple of months. Many veterinarians are well experienced with this surgery and often a specialist is not needed. This surgery is typically substantially less expensive than the other other procedures.

This procedure is particularly helpful for cats.

[megan_kat22]

Good luck tomorrow. I hope your baby feels better soon!

[mustangbee]

Oh my, I hope Tia is OK.
Please keep us posted on what the Vet said.
Sending Tia hugs!!!!