There are four different surgeries available to treat hip dysplasia.
Pectineus tenotomy is now thought of as an obsolete procedure, though it was popular in the 1970s. The surgery cut a section of the pectineus tendon and/or muscle, and seemed to provide relief from pain. However, the relief was only temporary in many patients.
Femoral head excision continues to be a popular surgical option, especially in dogs that weigh forty-five pounds or less. In this surgery, the head of the thigh bone (the femora) that fits in the hip socket is removed. A piece of muscle or joint tissue is placed into the socket, allowing scar tissue to form. The scar tissue supports the leg.
This surgery is more successful in dogs weighing forty-five pounds and less. Smaller dogs have a better chance of regaining almost the full range of motion once the hip has healed. For larger dogs, the scar tissue is often incapable of supporting the weight. Another drawback of this surgery is that the recovery time can be long — four months or more.
On the positive side, this surgery does not require any movement restrictions. Doctors often perform a femoral head excision on both hips at once — this forces the dog to use both legs immediately and can actually speed healing.
Triple osteotomy of the pelvis (TPO) is a relatively common preventative surgery for treating hip dysplasia. Not because it prevents hip dysplasia — but because it can prevent arthritis and pain associated with hip dysplasia. In this surgery, the bone is cut in three places and set securely in the socket. Plates, wires, and screws are used to hold the bone in place. Recovery time is between six and nine weeks and requires exercise restrictions.
This surgery works best when hip dysplasia is found BEFORE arthritis sets in.
Total hip replacement replaces the ball at the top of the femora with stainless steel and the hip socket with plastic. This surgery is available for dogs in general good health with hip dysplasia and arthritis between the age of thirteen months and fourteen years. Dogs who undergo this surgery must have exercise restrictions for six weeks.
This surgery is the most expensive but has the best success rate — 95% or more.