Femoral Head And Neck Ostectomy (FHO) is a surgical procedure that can be required for multiple reasons. It can be used to treat hip dysplasia with progressive degenerative joint changes, fractures of the hip joint, traumatic hip luxations that fail other treatments as well as Legg-Perthes Disease, which is an a collapse of the femoral head portion of the joint due to an interruption of blood flow.

The hip joint is made up of a cup portion called the acetabulum, which is part of the pelvis and the ball portion called the femoral head that is part of the femur (thigh bone). The goal is to remove the ball portion of the hip joint and create a “false joint” that is made up of muscles and fibrous tissue. These soft tissues continue to support the joint through the rest of the animal’s life. It results in a pain free joint with relatively normal activity after it has healed. It is a very successful procedure when used in the appropriate cases.