Comparison of the Ventral Approach to the Canine Hip Joint Using Gelpi Retractors and an Elastic O-Ring Wound Retractor

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Currently, there is an increasing emphasis on modifying surgical techniques to reduce iatrogenic damage to the patient’s tissues. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare the surface area of the surgical wound bed after implementing the ventral approach to the hip joint using two orthogonally inserted Gelpi retractors and an O-ring elastic wound retractor (O-WR). Self-retaining metal retractors, such as Gelpi retractors, are potentially dangerous and can damage retracting tissues. Unlike Gelpi retractors, the O-WR is an atraumatic, self-retaining retractor. Such a device can be an alternative to metal retractors and other methods of soft tissue retraction such as stay sutures. This study included adult large breed dog cadavers. For each cadaver, two hip joints were accessed via the ventral approach without pectinectomy. After retraction of the wound with the pair of Gelpi retractors or the O-WR, digital photographs were taken, with a ruler placed next to the wound. The final step of the analysis was to compare the surface area of the surgical wound bed obtained after the use of Gelpi retractors and the O-WR. In this study, the O-WR provides the same surgical wound bed area as the most commonly used Gelpi retractors. ABSTRACT: This study included 10 fresh adult cadavers of large breed dogs (6 males and 4 females). Their weight ranged from 25 to 45 kg (mean ± SD: 33.9 ± 6.2 kg). The breeds represented were crossbreed dogs (n = 5), German shepherds (n = 2), Bernese mountain dogs (n = 1), American Staffordshire terriers (n = 1), and Gordon setters (n = 1). Access to the target area and identification of the femoral head and neck was achieved with two Gelpi retractors inserted orthogonally and with the O-WR in all procedures. In each dog, the approach to the hip joint was made on the left and right sides. There was no significant difference in the area of the surgical wound bed between the two sides using either the Gelpi retractors (−0.52 ± 1.87 cm(2); CI 95%: −1.86, 0.81 cm(2); p = 0.398) or the O-WR (−0.27 ± 2.34 cm(2); CI 95%: −1.94, 1.41 cm(2); p = 0.729). The area of the surgical wound bed was 6.28 ± 1.72 cm(2) (2.72–9.70 cm(2)) for the Gelpi retractors and 6.34 ± 1.81 cm(2) (4.13–10.77 cm(2)) for the O-WR, and the difference between the Gelpi retractors and the O-WR was not significant (−0.06 ± 1.72 cm(2); CI 95%: −0.86, 0.74 cm(2); p = 0.879)