Minimally invasive treatment for sacroiliac dislocation in dogs

Sacroiliac dislocation is the separation of the iliac wing from the pelvic bone and needs to be repaired by surgery. Corrective surgical methods include open reduction and minimally invasive techniques. In the present study, we used a minimally invasive surgical technique in seven dogs with sacroiliac dislocation. Five cases had unilateral sacroiliac joint luxation and two cases had bilateral sacroiliac joint luxation; all were referred to hospital after being hit by an automobile. All cases were treated with a fluoroscope-assisted, minimally invasive technique. Patients were evaluated by measuring surgery time, postoperative ambulatory time, and calculating pelvic canal diameter ratios. Surgery time was measured from initial incision to completion of skin closure. Mean surgery time was 30.6 minutes in unilateral sacroiliac joint luxation and 68 minutes in bilateral sacroiliac joint luxation. Mean preoperative pelvic canal diameter ratio was 1.22 (± 0.27), immediate postoperative pelvic canal diameter ratio was 1.26 (± 0.10), and at 2 weeks after surgery, the pelvic canal diameter ratio was 1.37 (± 0.22). All cases were ambulatory within 1 week and mean postoperative ambulatory time was 5 days. Based on the results, the use of a minimally invasive technique for correction of sacroiliac dislocation can decrease surgical time, lessen operative and postoperative burdens on patients, and provide owners with a good prognosis.