ESTIMATION OF SOFT-TISSUE INTERPOSITION AFTER FEMORAL-HEAD AND NECK EXCISION IN DOGS USING VENTRODORSAL PELVIC RADIOGRAPHY

Extended-hip ventrodorsal pelvic radiographs performed on 16 dogs after femoral head and neck excision, with (n = 8) and without (n = 8) biceps femoris interpositional muscle flaps, were used to estimate the relative amount of soft tissue interposition between the femoral ostectomy site and acetabulum. A linear measurement was made of the shortest distance between the femoral ostectomy and the acetabulum. The linear measurement was capable of determining the presence of biceps femoris muscle flaps in most dogs prior to flap atrophy or necrosis, but failed to be predictive of limb function as determined by functional limb usage grading, force plate analysis, and thigh circumference measurements.