Veterinary Specialist Services has been performing total hip replacement surgeries for over 20 years with excellent outcomes. One of the things we know about joint replacement is that there is a proven correlation between surgeon experience and successful outcomes. We believe this is one of the reasons VSS has such excellent clinical results with this procedure. We also pride ourselves on advanced anaesthetic monitoring, 24-hour care, pain-free, stress-free hospitalisation, and clear instructions for owner care at home.

A safe, long-term solution to restore your dog’s mobility and quality of life. Available at our Carrara clinic, Total Hip Replacement (THR) can help dogs live pain-free and active lives again.

In the below video, specialist surgeon Dr Gordon Corfield, discusses Total Hip Replacement at VSS. 

What is hip dysplasia?

Total Hip Replacement is the gold-standard treatment for dogs with severe hip dysplasia or osteoarthritis. It replaces the damaged hip joint with high-quality, biocompatible implants, removing the source of pain and restoring normal function.

Signs your dog may benefit from THR:

• Hind limb lameness or stiffness which can be more pronounced after exercise or rest following exercise.
• Difficulty rising
• Reluctance to jump, ascend stairs or get onto the couch etc,
• Restlessness, moaning, and licking at the skin over the hip are also less common but possible signs
• Neurological deficits are not part of hip dysplasia.

There are generally two groups of patients that we see - young dogs with pain due to hip laxity, instability and synovitis, and older dogs where there is a progression of osteoarthritis.

Conditions suitable for THR:

• Hip dysplasia
• Chronic hip luxation or instability
• Osteoarthritis unresponsive to medical management
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
• Certain hip fractures

The benefits of hip replacement surgery:

• Restores full joint function
• Long-term pain relief without ongoing medication
• Allows dogs to run, play and enjoy life again
• Success rates exceed 90%

Why choose VSS Carrara for THR?

Dr Gordon Corfield has over 17 years of experience performing hip replacements and leads a skilled surgical team that supports you and your pet every step of the way.

We use the Swiss-made Kyon Cementless Hip Replacement System:

• Made from titanium, PEEK and ceramic - durable and biocompatible
• Hydroxyapatite coating promotes bone integration
• Proprietary locking screws for stability and fast recovery
• Suitable for pets as small as 3kg

Diagnosis

Physical examination: This may reveal muscle wastage around the hips or pain and/or instability with manipulation of the hips. Pain is typically most pronounced during extension and abduction of the hips.
Radiographs: Radiographs (x-rays) are necessary to diagnose hip dysplasia. Both laxity and the presence of secondary osteoarthritic
change can often be seen on radiographs. Special techniques are sometimes required to diagnose laxity of the hips.

Treatment

There are different diagnostic options including both imaging and palpation techniques, and each patient requires careful and complete assessment. Most patients will require sedation or preferably anaesthesia to allow adequate assessment by one of our
specialists to determine the most appropriate treatment recommendations.
Medical management is generally recommended for all patients. There are many medications and supplements available for the management of osteoarthritis. Many have been shown to have little clinical benefit. Be guided by the recommendations of our
specialists who are well versed in ‘evidence based medicine’ and can recommend those treatments that have a ‘proven’ benefit. An outline of the surgical options are included below: 

Young dogs less than 20 week of age:

Juvenile Pelvic Symphysiodesis (JPS). JPS is a procedure that is only effective in young, growing patients. This procedure involves surgically fusing the pelvic symphysis. As the pelvis grows with the now fused pubis there is outward rotation of the acetabulum which
improves the coverage and stability of the hip joint. This technique is only effective if there is potential for growth remaining, increased hip laxity and a relatively normal acetabulum.

Total Hip Replacement

Total hip replacement surgery is a procedure that removes the arthritic hip joint and replaces it with a prosthesis. The prostheses is implanted into the femur and pelvis and is designed to become ‘integrated’ with the bone and therefore last the lifetime of the patient. This procedure can be performed from skeletal maturity (typically 11mths of age) with no upper age limit.

The patients often experience a rapid resolution of pain and improved function. Full or near-full function is often achieved within 2-3mths of surgery. Those patients with chronic pain and poor function prior to surgery will benefit from post-operative physiotherapy to help stretch and rehabilitate the atrophied muscles. Recovery is quick and the expectation in the majority of cases is a return to athletic performance.

Complications of this procedure are uncommon and are minimized using the newer generation of titanium implants. Surgeons at VSS are among those who pioneered this technique in Australia and we are proud to have the most experienced hip replacement surgeons in Queensland.

Since our foundation in 2001 we have implanted hundreds of hips with an excellent success rate. Hip replacements are available in dogs weighing approximately 9kg with no upper weight / size limit. Soon implants will be available for cats and dogs from 3kg and up.

Cupless Hip Replacement

A cupless hip replacement is a modification of the total hip replacement. It is similar to the hemiarthroplasty performed in people where the femoral head and stem are replaced, however, the prosthetic femoral head articulates with the patient’s own acetabulum (cup) that is reamed to varying degrees to provide an appropriate ‘fit’ for the new femoral head.

This technique is cheaper than a total hip replacement and may be offered to those patients where there are financial constraints, or as a revision of a total hip replacement where there are cup problems. The results are typically very good, however some mild symptoms are expected following exercise, and results are not considered quite as good or as predictable as a total hip replacement. A cupless hip replacement remains the ‘second choice’ procedure for surgical salvage of the arthritic hip joint.

Hip Denervation

This technique is undertaken to lessen the pain associated with hip dysplasia. Hipdenervation does not however alter the progression of osteoarthritis. Sensory fibres in the periosteum and fibrous tissue that cover the joint can be removed to reduce pain. This procedure removes around 85% of the sensory (pain) nerve fibres to the hip joint.The analgesia typically lasts for around 2 years but is longer in some cases. This procedure has a low morbidity and can be performed on both sides. Physiotherapy is recommended in the post-operative period.

This procedure is often mostly applicable to older patients to help palliate symptoms associated with hip osteoarthritis.

Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy

This is a salvage procedure where the femoral head is removed and a fibrous or false joint forms. Recovery is slow and limb use is often sub-optimal. This procedure often may have poor results and is not frequently recommended at VSS.

Recovery and aftercare

Most dogs walk out of hospital two days after surgery. To ensure full healing:

• 8 weeks of rest and controlled leash-only exercise
• Avoid running, stairs and rough play
• Mild sedatives can be prescribed if needed

Our team provides full post-op support and will guide you through rehab.

How THR compares to other options

While pain meds, physiotherapy or Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) may help temporarily, only Total Hip Replacement restores full function and halts joint deterioration.

Real patient story: Nikita

At just one year old, tiny Chihuahua Nikita had her hip replaced using the Kyon system. She made a full recovery and now runs and plays without pain - a joyful, active dog once again.

Get started with a consultation

We’ll assess your dog’s condition and discuss whether THR is the right path forward. Early intervention can make all the difference.

Call us on (07) 5530 6370 or contact us online

Do you need more information on the recovery process?

These are the links to some resources that may help with your dog’s recovery from Total Hip Replacement Surgery.

• Postoperative care for the orthopaedic patient 
• Getting a dog safely in and out of the car
• Icing a limb post orthopaedic surgery
• The use of meloxicam
• Removing a light dressing
• Removing a fentanyl patch
• Sling walking a dog
• Administering a pill to a dog
• Passive range of motion exercises