The epidemiological profile, clinical signs, and surgical techniques used and the recovery of dogs presented for treatment of patellar luxation in the Veterinary Hospital of UFMG in the period from 2000 to 2010 were evaluated through a retrospective study. The clinical and surgical records of dogs and the data recorded for each animal were used. 342 joints in the records of 210 animals were studied. The congenital bilateral medial luxation was the most frequent occurrence and females were more affected. The age of the animals ranged from 32 days to 16 years, with higher incidence of luxation in animals under one year of age and body mass below 9.1kg. In 11.7% of the members had grade I luxation, 39.8% were grade II, 20.5% were grade III and 28% were grade IV. The frequency of preoperative claudicating was higher in dogs with luxation grades III and IV. Of the 342 joints, 218 underwent surgery. In the postoperative evaluation of animals, those with grade IV luxation showed higher claudicating frequency. The patellar luxation mainly affects females, and the bilateral congenital luxation is the most common occurrence, and young and small animals are more likely to have it. Functional recovery postoperative luxation in grade IV is slow and partial.
luxation; patella; dogs; epidemiology; orthopedics
