Summary
Two dogs, both Doberman n 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.
Ischiatic nerve palsy developed several weeks after femoral head and neck excision
in two Dobermann pinschers. Both dogs had undergone surgery involving muscle sling
placement. The ischiatic nerve was found to be entrapped in muscle in each case. Resection
of portions of the ischium allowed rapid recovery of function.
Keywords
Femoral head and neck excision - ischiatic nerve palsy - ostectomy
