Successful Treatment of a Coxofemoral Luxation in a Shetland Pony by Closed Reduction and Prolonged Immobilization Using a Full-Body Animal Rescue Sling

A 12-year-old, 170？kg, Shetland pony mare was presented with an acute severe right pelvic limb lameness and concurrent upward fixation of the right patella. The affected limb was rotated externally and adducted with a prominent greater trochanter and the right calcaneal tuber being more proximal than its left counterpart. Radiographic examination revealed complete dislocation of the right femoral head from the acetabular cavity in a dorsal and caudal direction. A closed reduction of the coxofemoral luxation was performed successfully under general anaesthesia. A full-body animal rescue and transportation sling (ARTS) was applied for the recovery. The reduction was followed by a right-sided medial patellar desmotomy. The pony was supported in the ARTS for a total of eight weeks combined with crossties for the first six weeks. Subsequently, the mare was discharged with instructions to slowly increase walking exercise over a period of two months before returning to her intended use. A follow-up after 22 months attested the successful treatment of a coxofemoral luxation by closed reduction and prolonged immobilization resulting in a regularly exercised pony without any residual lameness