Effect of two muscle sling techniques on early morbidity after femoral head and neck excision in dogs.

Femoral head and neck excision was performed on the left coxofemoral joint of 18 dogs. The osteotomy site was padded with a partial-thickness biceps femoris muscle sling in one group of six dogs, and with a deep gluteal muscle flap in another group of six dogs. In a third group of six dogs, a partial-thickness biceps flap was created and sutured back in its original location. The dogs were monitored daily for 3 weeks for degree of lameness, range of motion, fever, and postoperative complications. Dogs with intra-articular muscle pads were less lame and had a greater range of motion in the treated hip than dogs without intra-articular muscle pads. Dogs with biceps slings showed more improvement in limb function and range of motion than did dogs with deep gluteal flaps. There were no significant differences in mean temperature elevations and no clinically significant postoperative complications. Use of a partial-thickness biceps muscle sling or a deep gluteal muscle flap decreased the chances of early postoperative morbidity and provided an earlier return to function. The partial-thickness biceps sling appeared to be more beneficial than the deep gluteal flap.