BritishShorthair
Sequential Bilateral Biological Total Hip Replacement in a British Shorthair Cat: Anatomy, Technique, and Overcoming Contralateral Artifacts
Feline hip dysplasia is vastly underdiagnosed because cats are masters at masking chronic orthopedic pain. In this case, a 2-year-old male British Shorthair weighing 5.8 kg presented with severe bilateral hip laxity, advanced articular wear, and marked lameness. Cats possess unique anatomy: an exceptionally tiny acetabulum paired with a straight, "stovepipe" femoral canal, along with explosive jumping biomechanics requiring extreme range of motion. To restore lifelong, pain-free athletic ability without dislocation, I performed sequential bilateral cementless total hip replacements (THR) using the Vetmaster dual-mobility system (12 mm cup, #3 stem). This report details the technical execution of both stages—including the specific intraoperative challenge during the second stage, where the contralateral metal prosthesis blocked lateral fluoroscopic cup measurement, requiring precise C-arm patient leveling and mechanical alignment guidance.