Pet Parents Dashboard

Management

Techniques of application and initial clinical experience with sliding humeral osteotomy for treatment of medial compartment disease of the canine elbow.

Summary:

To determine medium-term clinical efficacy of sliding humeral osteotomy (SHO) for treatment of lameness and elbow pain associated with clinically diagnosed elbow disease featuring cartilage eburnation of the medial elbow compartment (medial compartmentdisease–MCD).

Conclusion:

Of 59 limbs that had SHO, 39 had preoperative focal treatment of the diseased medial aspect of the coronoid process. Mean +/- SD dog age was 45.5 +/- 37.48 months and body weight ranged from 13.6 to 46.7 kg. Mean preoperative duration of lameness was 14.7 +/- 18.50 months. Lameness improved for all limbs by 26 weeks, and resolved in 21/32 limbs. Significant improvements in postoperative elbow pain scores and most owner assessments of function were observed. Incidence of major complications requiring surgical intervention was 17.2%, 22.2%, and 4.8% for each of the 3 technique variants described. Histologic examination of 2 elbows at >12 months revealed fibrocartilage cover of medial aspect of humeral condyle.

Author & Journal:Fitzpatrick N, et al, Vet Surg 2009 38:261-278
Learn More

Effects of intramuscular administration of glycosaminoglycan polysulfates on signs of incipient hip dysplasia in growing pups.

Summary:

We tested the hypothesis that treatment of growing, susceptible (to hip dysplasia) pups by IM administration of glycosaminoglycanpolysulfates would mitigate the signs of incipient hip dysplasia.

Conclusion:

Of 8 treated pups, none had subluxation radiographically, whereas 4 of 8 control dogs had femoral head subluxation. Mean Norberg angle on the radiographs was 109.7 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees for the treated group and was 101.5 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees for controls, representing a mean improvement in coxofemoral congruity of 8.2 degrees in the treated pups.

Author & Journal:Lust G, et al, Am J Vet Res 1992; 53:1836-1843
Learn More

Long-term functional outcome of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy versus extracapsular repair in a heterogeneous population of dogs.

Summary:

To compare the long-term outcome of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) and extracapsular repair (ECR) for treatment of a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL).

Conclusion:

Dogs achieved normal limb loading faster after TPLO than ECR. TPLO resulted in operated limb function that was indistinguishable from the control population by 1 year postoperatively.

Author & Journal:Nelson SA, et al, Vet Surg 42:38-50, 2013
Learn More

Triple pelvic osteotomy: effect on limb function and progression of degenerative joint disease

Summary:

The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the outcome of 21 clinical patients treated with triple pelvic osteotomies during the year following surgery.

Conclusion:

Twelve dogs were treated unilaterally and nine dogs were treated bilaterally with triple pelvic osteotomies. There were no differences in mean anteversion angles, angles of inclination, or preoperative DJD between treated hips and untreated hips. Degenerative joint diseaseprogressed significantly in all hips regardless of treatment. Two cases developed hyperextension of their hocks after the triple pelvicosteotomies. However, no radiographic evidence of DJD was observed for any of the stifles or hocks at any observation time. A significant increase in vertical peak force (VPF) scores was noted for treated legs by two-to-three months after surgery, which continued over time. Untreated legs did not show a significant change in VPF scores over time. No differences were found in progression to higher scores when unilaterally treated legs, first-side treated legs, and second-side treated legs were compared.

Author & Journal:Johnson AL, et al, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1998 May-Jun;34(3):260-4
Learn More

Effects of postoperative rehabilitation on limb function after cranial cruciate ligament repair in dogs.

Summary:

To determine the effects of early postoperative rehabilitation on limb function in dogs after surgery for ruptured cranialcruciate ligament (RCCL).

Conclusion:

Dogs that have surgery for RCCL and a torn medial meniscus benefit from postoperativerehabilitation; rehabilitation should be considered part of the postoperative management of these patients.

Author & Journal:Marsolais, GS, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 220:1325-1330, 2002
Learn More

Use of client-specific outcome measures to assess treatment effects in geriatric, arthritic dogs: controlled clinical evaluation of a nutraceutical.

Summary:

“A questionnaire method was designed for dog owners to monitor the orthopedic disabilities of their pets for evaluation of a nutraceutical with joint health claims. Fifty large-breed dogs, 7 to 12 years of age, presenting with signs of osteoarthritis, were randomly allocated to placebo and active treatment groups. Degree of disability was assessed by physical examination, a standard questionnaire on daily activities, and a case-specific questionnaire that monitored specific impairments of each dog. The test product was a special milk protein concentrate (SMPC) from hyperimmunized cows, previously shown to express anti inflammatory and antiarthritic activity in humans”

Conclusion:

“Overall improvement was noted in 68% and 35% of the SMPC and placebo groups, respectively.”

Author & Journal:Gingerich D.A., et al, Veterinary Therapeutics, 2003
Learn More

Nonconstrained elbow replacement in dogs.

Summary:

To review development of a nonconstrained total elbow replacement system for use in dogs and report the surgical technique used for implantation.

Conclusion:

Design improvements incorporated into the elbow replacement system should increase treatment success.

Author & Journal:Conzemius M., Vet Surg 2009 38:279-284
Learn More

Evaluation of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan for the treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs.

Summary:

A double-blinded, controlled clinical study was performed to compare the response of adult dogs affected with hip dysplasia to a placebo and three different dosages of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG): 2.2 mg/kg, 4.4 mg/kg, and 8.8 mg/kg. Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment groups. The drug was administered intramuscularly every 3 to 5 days for a total of eight injections. Response to treatment was analyzed based on changes in lameness, range of motion (ROM), and pain on manipulation of the hip joints.

Conclusion:

Eighty-four met all criteria for inclusion in the study. Dogs that were given 4.4 mg/kg of PSGAG showed the greatest improvement in orthopedic scores, whereas dogs in the placebo group showed the smallest improvement; however, the differences in clinical improvement between the four treatment groups were not statistically significant. No local or systemic adverse reactions related to the drug were observed.

Author & Journal:DeHaan JJ, et al, Vet Surg 1994;23:177–181
Learn More

Comparison of long-term outcomes associated with three surgical techniques for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs.

Summary:

To evaluate long-term (>1 year) outcomes with respect to function and complications in dogs undergoing TightRope (TR), tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), or tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease.

Conclusion:

Long-term outcomes for TPLO and TR were superior to TTA based on subjective client and DVM assessments. Each technique was associated with a high long-term success rate with TR showing the highest safety-to-efficacy ratio.

Author & Journal:Christopher SA, et al, Vet Surg 42:329-334, 2013
Learn More

Double pelvic osteotomy for the treatment of hip dysplasia in young dogs.

Summary:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) (osteotomy of the ilium and pubis) to treat clinical cases of hip dyplasia in young dogs instead of performing a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) (osteotomy of the ilium, pubis, and ischium).

Conclusion:

Restoration of normal joint congruity (PC from 50 to 72%) and maintenance of the pelvic geometry without pelvic narrowing were the most intriguing features of DPO. The complications observed were greatly reduced when using dedicated DPO plates. Based on our experience, the morbidity after unilateral and bilateral DPO was lower than after TPO because elimination of the ischiatic osteotomy allowed for increased stability of the pelvis. The surgical technique of DPO was a little more demanding than TPO because of the difficulty in handling and rotating the acetabular iliac segment, but this difficulty was offset by elimination of ischial osteotomy.

Author & Journal:Vezzoni A, et al, VCOT 2010
Learn More