Ventral approach to the dog proximal femur
1. Indications
The ventral approach to the hip joint is a feasible alternative to treat epiphyseal and capital physeal fractures. This approach provides adequate visualization of the articular surface of the femoral head.
2. Anatomy
The pectineus muscle covers the hip joint ventrally. In a deeper plane, the medial circumflex femoral artery and vein run in a craniocaudal direction above the joint capsule. The femoral artery and vein and the saphenous nerve lie just cranial to the pectineus muscle.
Note: These vessels need to be identified and protected.
3. Skin incision
An incision of adequate length is made centered in the ventral acetabulum, over the pectineus muscle.
4. Exposure
The tendon of origin of the pectineus muscle is transected close to its attachment in the iliopectineal eminence.
The iliopsoas muscle is reflected distally, and the medial circumflex femoral vessels are gently retracted medially. This provides visualization to the joint capsule, which is incised in a plane parallel to the femoral neck.
5. Closure
The joint capsule is closed using interrupted sutures. The pectineus may be reattached using mattress sutures, or removed. Subcutis and skin are routinely closed.
