Updates in canine hip replacement - College of Veterinary Medicine ...

Vol. 1, No. 1 ~ Fall 2010
Buzz DeCola, a hip replacement
patient at the Small Animal Hospital.
Canine hip replacement
factoids...
• Until recently, total hip replacement
(THR) was typically reserved
for mature, large or giant
breed dogs with severe osteoarthritis
of the hip
• An updated THR system is now
available that uses a “press fit”,
which allows bone ingrowth into
the components, eliminating the
need for bone cement
• This biological fixation system
(BFX) allows THRs to be performed
in younger dogs (even
10-12 months) and has many advantages
over other systems
• We also have THR implants for
use in small breed dogs and cats
a quarterly publication of the small animal surgery service at
the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
surgery
Total hip replacement (THR) is the
only procedure that completely elimi-
nates pain while restoring full-function to
a diseased hip joint. As such, it is the pre-
ferred surgical treatment for a number of
conditions such as hip dysplasia, hip luxa-
tions, and intra-articular fractures.
Total hip replacement (THR) has been
performed on client-owned dogs since
the 1970’s. Initial hip replacement systems
mimicked those used in humans, and re-
quired the use of medical grade bone
cement (PMMA) to secure both the ac-
etabular and femoral implants in proper
position. Over the next several decades,
advances in implant design and cement-
ing techniques resulted in newer “genera-
tions” of THR systems.
The newest cemented THR system
is manufactured by Biomedtrix (www.
biomedtrix.com) and is known as the CFX®
system. Results with the CFX system are
excellent; 90-95% of canine patients
have resolution of lameness, full return
to function, and no long-term complica-
tions. However, some inherent risks exist
with the use of bone cement, including
implant infection and aseptic loosening,
a process in which the cement-bone inter-
VETERINARY MEDICINE
& BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
NOTES
Updates in canine hip replacement
Did you know?
VD radiograph of dog with severe hip
dysplasia
face is slowly destroyed resulting in failure
of the THR. These same risks also occur
in human cemented THRs. For this rea-
son, THR systems were developed to elim-
inate the use of bone cement.
Cementless implants are of larger size
and have a porous titanium coating which
allows the patient’s bone to grow into the
implants after surgery. A cementless THR
system was used by veterinary surgeons in
There are currently three hip replacement systems available for veterinary use. The
Biomedtrix system has been used in over 50,000 cases, and is the only system that allows
placement of cementless or cemented implants. This unsurpassed versatility is one of
the reasons why we perform Biomedtrix total hip replacements.

the 80’s and 90’s at North Carolina State
University and results were extremely
encouraging.
Biomedtrix has developed and re-
leased an updated cementless hip re-
placement system based on the NCSU
design. The Biomedtrix BFX® hip has
been in use since 2004, and is the system
of choice for many hip replacement sur-
geons. Similar to the CFX hip, clinical
results with the BFX hip appear to be
outstanding, with 90–95% of dogs hav-
ing excellent outcomes. It also appears
that the incidence of aseptic loosening
may be decreased when compared with
cemented systems.
One advantage of the Biomedtrix sys-
tem is the universal surgical technique
that is used. A single surgical technique
allows surgeons to use either CFX or
BFX components in their patients. Al-
though it is ideal to use BFX implants in
every case, some dogs are not good can-
didates for BFX implants due to bone
shape and bone quality. The Biomed-
trix system allows “hybridization” of im-
plants for these dogs, which is the com-
bination of BFX or CFX components.
Not only does Biomedtrix produce
the leading THR system, but they have
also developed smaller implants for use
in small breed dogs and cats! Indica-
tions for THR in these patients include
treatment of hip dysplasia, Perthes’ dis-
ease, hip luxations, and fractures involv-
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Brian Saunders
Dr. Brian Saunders is a 2001 graduate of
the Texas A&M University College of Veteri-
nary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (DVM)
and a 2005 graduate of Texas A&M University
Health Science Center (PhD). After comple-
tion of a small animal surgical residency,
he joined the faculty as a Clinical Assistant
Professor in Orthopedic Surgery in 2009.
Radiographs of a dog before and after BFX
total hip replacement.
Left: Biomedtrix® BFX implants;
Right: Biomedtrix® CFX implants
Dr. Saunders clinical interests include joint
replacement, arthroscopy, and minimally in-
vasive fracture repair. He also has a strong
research interest, and is in the process of es-
tablishing a cell biology laboratory to investi-
gate the molecular aspects of common ortho-
pedic conditions.
ing the hip joint. With the arrival of the
microTHR, surgeons can now provide
patients with pain-free, normal func-
tion regardless of their size.
Why should you
consider referring
your hip dysplasia
cases to Texas A&M?
Texas A&M or-
thopedic surgeons
use the Biomedtrix THR systems. We
have been performing THRs since the
1980’s, and our faculty have a wealth of
experience with the procedure. We have
a passion for hip replacement surgery,
and are committed to the highest level
of surgical, peri-operative, and post-
operative care. We realize that cost is
of central importance for most clients
considering THR for their pet; pricing
at Texas A&M is extremely competitive.
Although Texas A&M is a teaching
hospital, success with THR is directly
related to surgical experience. As such,
all THRs are performed exclusively
by ACVS Diplomates. Finally, cases
referred to Texas A&M for THR are
screened meticulously before surgery,
and a prolonged consultation occurs
between the THR surgeon and client.
Medical and surgical treatment options
are covered, as well as specific surgical
options for their pet.
Visit the VMTH Small Animal Surgery Service on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/services/orthopedics