To observe the morphological changes of the femoral head following vascular infarct produced by surgical devascularization of the capital femoral epiphysis in a mongrel puppy model.

Forty-six mongrel, weaned puppies, 7 to 9 weeks old, and between 1.5 to 2.5 kg in weight, were experimentedupon. They were divided into three groups: 12 underwent only simple capsular incision (Group A), 18 underwent ligamentum teres disruptionwith temporary subluxation of the hip joint (Group B), and 16 underwent both ligamentum teres and posterior retinacular arterydisruption (Group C). Three to five puppies in each experimental group were periodically sacrificed at 2 weeks and at 1, 2, 5 months, postoperatively. Both femurs, extracted from the sacrificed puppies, were studied by eye, radiographically and histologically.

Puppies from the single (Group B) and double devascularization groups (Group C) showed definite findings of vascular infarct macroscopically, radiologically, and histologically. These findings were more frequent and severe in the group with the double infarct thanthe single infarct.

Morphological changes similar to those seen in human Legg-Calve-Perthes' disease (LCPD) were observed in puppy specimens. This puppy model of LCPD may be useful for experimental studies.