Triple pelvic osteotomy with a 12.5° and a 20° Slocum‐type plate: A short‐term prospective clinical pilot study in 38 dogs

Objective To determine whether using 12.5° Slocum-like triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) plates would create sufficient femoral head coverage and lower the occurrence of overrotation compared with using 20° TPO plates in dogs with hip dysplasia. Study design Prospective clinical study. Sample population Thirty-five dogs with hip dysplasia (38 hips). Methods Nineteen hips were surgically treated with a custom-made Slocum-type 12.5° TPO plate, and these were matched to 19 hips surgically treated with a 20° commercial Slocum TPO plate. Hips were case matched according to size and breed. Ortolani sign, angles of subluxation and reduction, distraction index, and femoral head coverage (FHC) were compared between groups. Excessive coverage was defined as >80%. Results In the 12.5° group, FHC was ≥50% in all hips, with mean FHC (67%), gain (37%), and excessive coverage (11%) all significantly less than in the 20° group (79%, 54%, and 42%, respectively). Conclusion The 12.5° plate produced sufficient FHC compared with the 20° plate, with fewer hips with excessive coverage. Clinical significance The 12.5° TPO plate may result in sufficient FHC with a lower occurrence of excessive coverage compared with 20° plates.