UPDATE ON LOTZ! Thanks for everyone whos texted asked how shes doing! I just got home from work, so I wanted to let you know how her surgery went. I got to talk over the phone with Dr. Au who did her surgery at Blue Pearl Vet this afternoon. Lotzs left hip was dislocated, and when he got in there, she had severe dysplasia and it would not be possible to reduce it (put the ball back in the socket) due to the pain that the bone on bone would cause with the dysplasia, and that the ball and socket just werent really a match in size due to the injury occurring to her as a puppy. So he performed a FHO (femoral head ostectomy), where it sawed off the ball of the femur. So technically, Lotz will never have an articulating hip joint, but after she heals, she will no longer be in pain. With the diseased head of the femur out of the way, they have already noted that she has better range of motion in the hip area than before surgery. Another option would have be a total hip replacment, a very costly procedure in animals, and Lotz wasnt a candidate for that. But because Lotzs right leg is permanently locked out at the knee, having a hip joint on the left really wouldnt improve her function much more anyway in my opinion. And for those who have met Lotz, you know how awesome she gets around already! So Im looking foward to helping her rehab and see how she does. Because she had a FHO, she doesnt have any restrictions, and is supposed to use and strengthen her operative leg immediately!
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 00:59:46 +0000