FEMORAL-HEAD AND NECK EXCISION COMPLICATED BY ISCHIATIC NERVE ENTRAPMENT IN 2 DOGS

Two dogs, both Dobermann pinschers, developed ischiatic nerve palsy following femoral head and neck excisions. Each had undergone surgery entailing the incorporation of a muscle flap (in one case deep gluteal, in the other biceps femoris) to reduce bone-on-bone contact after ostectomy. At later exploratory surgery, the ischiatic nerve was found to be entrapped by muscle in the ischiatic fossa, caudal to the greater trochanter. Partial excision of the ischium relieved the compression, allowing rapid recovery of function. The complication of ischiatic nerve entrapment may warrant consideration when contemplating femoral head and neck excision in cases in which the greater trochanter and ischial tuberosity are abnormally close.