Physiatric treatment of hip dysplasia in a puppy: Case report

Abstract

Hip dysplasia is a highly recurrent orthopedic condition that starts in the puppy with joint laxity and progresses to osteoarthrosis, which can cause severe pain and compromise the animal's quality of life. Its development is multifactorial and there are several described. In adults, there is a consensus that the treatment of the disease is multifactorial and encompasses environmental management, use of nutraceuticals, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy. When there is no response the treatment, surgical procedures such as acetabular denervation, arthroplastic excision of the femoral head and total hip replacement can be performed. In puppies there are already studies that prove the hormonal, nutritional influence, and the development of muscle mass in the evolution of hip dysplasia. However, there is no previous report of a physiatric protocol for dysplastic puppies. Conservative treatment was performed on a male dog of the Saint Bernard breed with a severe degree of hip subluxation and valgus angular deviation from 4 to 9 months of age. With the application of functional electrostimulation, kinesiotherapy and photobiomodulation during 30 sessions, there was a significant improvement in muscular and cardiovascular resistance, an important reduction in claudication, muscle mass gain in the gluteal region and thigh extensors, reduction of angular deviation of the femorotibial joint and it was easier for it to stand up. It is concluded that physiatric techniques have the potential to control the factors that negatively influence the development of hip dysplasia and can be included in the conservative treatment in puppies, however further studies are needed.