| Allergies
DYSPLASIA:
COMING TO GRIPS WITH BAD HIPS
by Steve Marsden,
DVM, ND, MSOM, LAc, Dipl. CH
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IS
SURGERY THE CUTTING EDGE OF TREATMENT?
Abnormal hip joint structure appears to
be the problem in CHD, so many veterinarians
consider surgery the only real solution.
Various techniques are used, such as prosthetic
implants similar to those used in humans.
Others include Triple Pelvic Osteotomy
(TPO) and fusing the pubic symphysis of
young predisposed dogs.
To get a idea of how these techniques
work, think about holding an inflatable
ball underwater. The only way you can
do this is if your hand is positioned
perfectly over top of the ball. Likewise,
the goals of TPO and fusing the pubic
symphysis are to rotate the acetabulum
over top of the femoral head as much as
possible, so the femur will push up into
it.
Generally, TPO and prosthetic hips are
very satisfactory, with over 80 percent
of dogs showing a significant improvement
in mobility. Good results with TPO are
more likely in younger dogs, where good
coverage of the femoral head is more likely
to be achieved. These surgeries are extremely
expensive, however, with each hip costing
several thousand dollars. They’re
also extensive, and can only be considered
for young dogs in good health.
THE
LIGAMENT CONNECTION
Another reason to look beyond surgery
is that bony conformation is not the only
problem in hip dysplasia. A study of dogs
that received TPO revealed that while
80 percent experienced gait improvement,
the hip joints in over 40 percent continued
to degenerate because of laxity in the
tissues holding the two bones together.
The main tissue anchoring the femur to
the hip is a thick ligament most commonly
called the round ligament. The health
of this ligament plays a key role in the
development of CHD. In fact, the earliest
sign of the disease is not wear and tear
of cartilage, but swelling and inflammation
of the round ligament. Eventually, the
ligament stretches, frays and finally
ruptures as CHD progresses. Not surprisingly,
then, the severity of joint damage in
CHD is strongly correlated to the integrity
of the round ligament. The most likely
way alternative veterinary practitioners
ease the pain of CHD and halt further
joint degeneration is not by changing
the structure of the pelvis, but by improving
the health and integrity of the round
ligament.
GET
HIP TO ACUPUNCTURE
One effective alternative medical treatment
for hip dysplasia is acupuncture, the
insertion of fine sterile needles into
the skin and subcutaneous tissues at special
points. The exact function of each point
varies with its location, but most are
“hardwired” to the brain and
spinal cord, and are believed to exert
their influence through the central nervous
system.
Most acupuncture treatments are repeated
on perhaps a weekly basis until the patient
is much improved. A more enduring form
of single acupuncture treatment is to
use a hypodermic needle to implant tiny
gold beads at the acupuncture points.
A study at Finland’s University
of Helsinki in 2001 showed a significant
improvement in pain and gait abnormalities
in 19 CHD dogs treated with gold bead
implants.
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Published in
the February/March 2004 issue of Animal
Wellness
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