Preparation for arthrodesis
1. Lateral recumbency
The animal is anesthetized and positioned in lateral recumbency on the surgery table with the surgical site up (in a varus deformity the affected limb is up, in a valgus deformity it is down).
If the deformity is bilateral, the animal is best positioned in dorsal recumbency on the surgery table, which allows performance of both surgical interventions without turning the patient over.
The affected region(s) is/are clipped and prepared for aseptic surgery. The entire animal is covered with a drape and a window is cut in the drape over the surgical site(s).
