Hemipelvectomy In The Dog: A Case Series In Three Dogs

Hemipelvectomy is the surgical removal of a part of the pelvis. The procedure is indicated for malignant tumor removal. It is rarely performed due to concerns about its invasiveness. During the past ten years, only three patients underwent hemipelvectomy in the Small Animal Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Ghent University): a total hemipelvectomy with leg amputation in two dogs and a mid-caudal partial hemipelvectomy with leg amputation in the third dog. The indication was peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) in two dogs and osteosarcoma (OSA) in one dog. Perioperative complications included blood loss, hypothermia, hematuria, and oliguria. Postoperative support was needed for an average of five days. One patient had an additional procedure because of incomplete tumor removal. The dogs were ambulating well and had a good quality of life. The median survival time was 578 days (PNST 594 days and OSA 533 days). The two dogs with PNST were euthanized for local tumor regrowth and the dog with OSA for pulmonary metastases.