Dislocation of hip in animals

Dislocation of hip (coxofemoral luxation) may occur in domestic animals.

It is a not rare condition, usually unilateral, in:
 * cattle, among others, after calving.
 * dogs, resulting from trauma or as a complication of hip dysplasia.

The same illness also exists in human medicine.

Symptoms
In dogs, it occurs mainly in a upwards and forwards direction. Hence, the affected leg is shortened, and the greater trochanter prominent.

In cattle, it occurs mainly craniodorsally or caudoventrally, but other directions are possible. A typical stance is seen in craniodorsal luxations, with a shortened limb, and a protrusion of greater trochanter (see picture here).

Treatment
Attempts in reduction in cattle are generally not successful. Affected animals, at least not too heavy ones, can live with the disease for a long time because of the formation of a sort of pseudo-joint in the hip.

Dogs with hip dysplasia and unilateral dislocation can live if the other leg is not too severely hit. Then there is a severe muscular atrophy of the thigh. Compensation occurs with musculation of the shoulders.

Literature

 * Hip dislocation in cattle
 * P. Greenough, F. Weaver & A. Weaver; Lameness in cattle, Wright Scientica, Bristol, 1981, ISBN 0721652050, p. 269-273.
 * G. Rosenberger, Krankheiten des Rindes, Verlag Parey, Berlin, 1978, ISBN 3-489-61716-9, s. 463-466.
 * Hip dislocation in dogs
 * H.J. Christoph; Diseases of dogs, Pergamon Press, New York, 1975, ISBN 0-08-015800-5, p. 406-410.