33rd Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Introduction: Total hip replacement (THR) is an effective and common treatment in small animals. Management in zoo animals can be challenging due to difficulties in restricting postoperative exercise and controlling recovery.


Case description: A 1-year old male 22-kg maned wolf was presented with a chronic moderate weight-bearing lameness of the right hindlimb of several months duration. Trauma was not reported. Radiographs and CT revealed a right craniodorsal hip luxation with proximal femoral varus and acetabular flattening. Total hip replacement was performed using a dual mobility 26-mm cementless acetabular component and a size 7 collared locked cementless femoral stem with a 14-mm diameter femoral head (PorteVet, Porticcio, France). Tenotomy of the pectineus and rectus femoris muscles was performed to counteract muscle contraction in order to facilitate implant reduction. The proximal femoral varus was not corrected to avoid additional surgical morbidity.  


Results:  On postoperative radiographs, acetabular cup position was assessed as satisfactory with a 22° version angle and a 47° angle of lateral opening. Two days postoperatively, the wolf was placing weight on the operated limb.  During the next 40 days, the wolf was kept at rest, in an interior lodge covered with a non-slip mat. Eight weeks postoperatively,  mild weight-bearing lameness of the right hindlimb  was observed and radiographs indicated implant osseointegration. One year postoperatively, normal activity was reported without lameness.


Conclusions: To the author’s knowledge, this case report describes the first THR in a maned wolf with excellent functional recovery postoperatively and no complications one year after surgery.