What is Femoral head osteotomy?
FHO is a surgical procedure that entails removing the ball and neck of the femur at the level of the hip joint and relies on scar tissue development. The FHO is a salvage procedure that is most commonly performed because it is less expensive (no hardware) and has less serious complications compared to total hip replacement (THR) and triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO).
What are the indications for FHO?
The most common indication for the FHO is canine hip dysplasia (arthritis), neck and hip fractures
Do large breed dogs benefit from FHO?
Historically, the FHO surgery was performed only on smaller dogs, less than 30 pounds and it is was not recommended for larger patients. Now days, the procedure is performed in over 100 pounds patients with excellent results. The success of the surgery is dictated by the precise execution of the procedure and experience of the surgeon (board certified surgeon only)
When does my dog need surgery ?
Hip surgery is performed when conservative measures (weight loss, rest and medical management ) have failed, and the patient’s activity is declining. By declining, I refer to the development of bone spurs around the hip joint that debilitate your dog’s activity
What are the expectations with FHO
The prognosis for FHO surgery is good with patient returning to full limb function after 2 to 4 months. The patient might develop gait abnormality post surgery, which is not indicative of pain or discomfort. To ensure success of the FHO surgery, physical therapy must be performed immediately post op for the duration of the recovery.
Why is physical therapy important during the recovery from FHO surgery?
The healing from FHO surgery relies on the build up of scar tissue, which can be beneficial (no nerve endings) and detrimental (lock joint) at the same time. Physical therapy stretches the collagen fiber (scar) and improves the full range of motion of the hip joint
What are the complications from FHO
The most common complication of FHO surgery is the formation of too much scar tissue that will negatively impact the new joint’s range of motion.