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Hip Replacement
- Thread starter BinkyBun
- Start date
Not heard of this for rabbits, but a friend's collie needs a double hip replacement and there are no suitable ones that are small enough for her - even been in touch with the manufacturers. It's a really big specialist op, very expensive (£5k plus per doggy hip) and weeks / months of cage rest to recover. Can't really see it happening for a bunny.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
I have heard of some extreme surgery on Rabbits. Some I would probably never put a Rabbit in my care through.
Always keep in mind, just because a surgical procedure/ treatment is technically/clinically possible it does not mean that it is always ethically or morally right to do it.
Sometimes letting go is the 'best' option for the animal, even if it is the most painful option for us.
Always keep in mind, just because a surgical procedure/ treatment is technically/clinically possible it does not mean that it is always ethically or morally right to do it.
Sometimes letting go is the 'best' option for the animal, even if it is the most painful option for us.
Like Jack's Jane I would have huge reserves based on my knowledge of it in humans.
The operation is major surgery which entails much blood loss from living bone.
There is much post op pain & immobility.
Above all, the nerves to the joint are always damaged so walking always feels unstable afterwards.
My personal opinion is that it's asking too much of a rabbit to put them through it.
I would concentrate on pain relief by both drugs & acupuncture.
The operation is major surgery which entails much blood loss from living bone.
There is much post op pain & immobility.
Above all, the nerves to the joint are always damaged so walking always feels unstable afterwards.
My personal opinion is that it's asking too much of a rabbit to put them through it.
I would concentrate on pain relief by both drugs & acupuncture.
marie_kubiak
Alpha Buck
Hip replacements are not available for rabbits currently and because of the differing forces on a rabbit hip compared to a dog/cat it is unlikely that they will ever be suitable candidates for this procedure.
For severely damaged hips a femoral head osteotomy can be carried out - the diseased ball of the hip joint is removed and scar tissue allowed to build up and stabilise the joint. In rabbits this can work well, even for both hips, as long as the rest fo the back and leg don't have other problems.
Marie
For severely damaged hips a femoral head osteotomy can be carried out - the diseased ball of the hip joint is removed and scar tissue allowed to build up and stabilise the joint. In rabbits this can work well, even for both hips, as long as the rest fo the back and leg don't have other problems.
Marie
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
But is it fair to put a Rabbit through such major surgery ? A genuine question, I honestly dont think I could.
What is the expected recovery timescale and what complications could there be, aside from post surgical ileus ?
Thank you Marie. This is very interesting. It was the operation used for humans before hip replacements were possible & called the Girdelston procedure.
There is much, much less blood loss because there is no reaming of either actetabulum or femur to secure a prothesis.
How do rabbits cope with shortening of the femur while waiting for surgery to the other side, or a unilateral Girdleston?
Also what is the effect on the other joints in the hind limb & spine?
marie_kubiak
Alpha Buck
A FHO is nowhere near as invasive as a transplant. The surgery involves a 1 inch long wound and takes about half an hour. Bunnies tend to cope really well after - a sore hip before surgery means that a sore hip temporarily after surgery with the benefit of pain relief is not intolerable and actually may be an improvement even immediately as the main source of pain is removed. It's not something I will advocate for mild joint problems but if there is significant arthritis with pain that isn't well controlled medically then I really believe it is a valid option. A hip transplant I would not consider.
Recovery time is usually good for FHO - 2-3days post op to be behaving normally and 2-3wks to allow scar tissue to form and have stability of the joint. Complications are minimal, I don't recall any in my cases though I saw one from another vet who had done surgery on both hips at the same time. obviously that bunny took a lot longer to be comfortable and move round.
Marie
marie_kubiak
Alpha Buck
Hi Judy,
Also there is much less trauma to surrounding tissue as you don't need good visualisation of/interference with other structures, just to be able to physically contact the femoral neck meaning reduced post-op pain and quicker return to function.
Because in rabbits the leg is naturally held in a flexed position the majority of the time, the length change has little effect and as the disarticulated femur is intact almost up until the femoral neck, with fibrosis of the intervening tissue, there is actually little true loss of length. Even in unilateral surgery there is no appreciable difference in gait once they have fully recovered. Angle change also seems minimal - nowhere near as detrimental as tarsal arthrodesis. Humans I'd imagine this is far more complicated as the leg is vertical.
Marie
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
marie_kubiak
Alpha Buck
It really would depend on whether there were changes present that affected spinal movement or lower leg movement as immediately after surgery these areas are under more pressure and existing instability could worsen these other problems. I would suggest Xrays before surgery so your vet can fully assess the changes and see whether surgery is an option.
Marie
