Partial hemipelvectomy: An alternative for improving dogs' life quality

Partial hemipelvectomy refers to the surgical removal of a pelvic segment, which is performed for pelvic bone neoplasms, severe fractures, or poor bone union. This study presents the cases of seven dogs, six of which have neoplasms involving the hip joint and one with severe pelvic canal narrowing due to a poorly consolidated trauma. Partial caudal hemipelvectomy was performed for all the dogs to improve the quality of life and delay euthanasia. Of the seven cases, six required the use of a polypropylene mesh for the pelvic wall closure, with 85.71% of them acquiring manageable complications in the postoperative period. Despite these complications, an overall improvement in the quality of life was reported to be significant in the operated animals due to the removal of the cause of pain or discomfort. Thus, it was concluded that partial hemipelvectomyis beneficial for dogs with pelvic conditions. Furthermore, the main complication due to the lack of a pelvic wall for primary occlusion was circumvented by using a polypropylene mesh, showing that possible complications in this procedure can be appropriately managed.

Automated summary

This study reports cases of partial hemipelvectomy in seven dogs. Despite some complications, the overall quality of life in the dogs showed significant improvement, indicating that partial hemipelvectomy is beneficial for dogs with severe pelvic conditions.