What is a Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHO)?
An FHO is a surgical treatment for hip disorders; such as hip dysplasia, hip luxation, fractured hip, etc. in dogs and cats. It is a suitable surgery for any condition in which the integrity of the hip joint has been compromised and primary repair is not feasible.
The goal of an FHO is to create a false “hip joint” that will yield better mobility and to reduce the pain caused by the hip disorder. The pain is relieved for the pet by eliminating the bony contact between the femur and the pelvis
Diagnosis
- Radiographs
- Clinical Signs; limping, difficulty getting up from laying down, stiffness, abnormal gait, weakness and pain in the back end, etc.
- Thorough physical examination with a veterinarian
Surgery Technique
The hip is a ball and socket joint, with the femoral head (the upper part of the leg) being the ball and the acetabulum (a portion of the pelvis) comprising the socket. The FHO procedure removes the femoral head and neck from the rest of the femur, which in essence removes the hip joint. The body forms a “new hip” in the months following surgery. But unlike the normal contact of bone and cartilage, the new hip is a collection 
of scar tissue with additional support from the surrounding muscles and joint capsule.
Image 1: a pre-op radiograph taken before a FHO procedure showing hip dysplasia on both sides of the hip
Image 2: a post-op radiograph taken after the patient had an FHO done for both sides
Recovery
- Early, active use of the limb is necessary
- Passive range of motion exercises (PROMs) are started early
- Leash walking and freedom for the pet to move about a confined area are encouraged
- 2 weeks post-op active exercise such as running and swimming is encouraged which will be discussed at the time of the recheck appointment