Cast immobilization for treatment of dorsally subluxated proximal interphalangeal joint in a Thoroughbred mare

Subluxation of the proximal interphalangeal joint [PIPJ or pastern joint] is an uncommon condition that occurs in the forelimb or hindlimb. Thoroughbred racehorses rarely show dorsal pastern subluxation [Thoroughbred ringbone] secondarily to an injury to the soft tissues supporting the fetlock. A 4-year-old Thoroughbred mare was presented with signs of lameness, swelling of the dorsal aspect of the pastern region of the right forearm and audible clicking sound when weight was placed on the limb. The condition seemed to have been developed as a consequence of extreme overexertion 4 days before referral. Radiographic examination of a non-weight bearing limb showed dorsal subluxation of the pastern joint. Under general anesthesia the affected limb was immobilized by cast after reduction of the luxated bone into the PIPJ. The affected limb was kept immobilized for four weeks. Then the cast was removed and the animal was given rest for two months. Consequently, weight bearing on the affected limb was improved and no signs of lameness were observed after six months

[Iohexol effects on tear biochemical profiles in normal large animal model]

Dacryocystography or visualization of nasolacrimal duct has been widely used in the assessment of the nasal lacrimal system. The water-soluble agent iohexol is currently widely used in nervous and vascular lesion in diagnostic radiology and also employed in dacryocystography. This study was performed to determine the effects of iohexol on tear parameters in normal donkey as a large animal model. We examined 10 normal donkeys mean age approximately 4.5 years. The donkeys received iohexol once a day. All donkeys were housed out doors throughout the study. Different tear parameters [total protein, lysozyme, sodium, and potassium and protein electrophoresis of tear] were measured at 0, 2 hours and 2 weeks after dacryocystography with iohexol. The results showed that mean and standard deviation of total protein of tear were 5.88 +/- 2.15 mg/ml before dacryocystography and after 2 hours was 4.10 +/- 0.96 and after two weeks was 7.36 +/- 3.68. Mean and standard deviation of lysozyme was 858.39 +/- 170.88 units in Mg of protein of tear and after two hours was 1013.19 +/- 178.67 and after two week was 702.54 +/- 360.50. Mean +/- SD of sodium of tear before dacryocystography was 3084.90 +/- 725.44 micro/ml and after two hours and two weeks were 3508.40 +/- 1372.52 and 8026.20 +/- 2953.88 respectively. Mean +/- SD of Potassium of tear before dacryocystography was 863.37 +/- 52.55 micro/ml and after two hours and two weeks were 753.84 +/- 46.81 and 1564.20 +/- 276 +/- 41 respectively. Results of SDS-PAGE of donkeys tear confirmed that nine protein bands with molecular weights between 10 kDa and 15 kDa are present. No differences found in protein electrophoresis pattern before and after iohexol administration. No significant changes were present in measured factors at different times. In conclusion iohexol is a safe and suitable contrast media for dacryocystography

Clinical and biomechanical effects of morphine on skin wound healing

Opioids analgesics are used as premedication and in maintenance of anesthesia and in post-operative pain control. 20 female rabbits were assigned to experimental and control groups and followed for healing process for 20 days. Each rabbit was anesthetized, and a full-thickness skin incision, 3 cm long, was made on its back. The wounds were closed with non-absorbable suture. Morphine and saline were administered to experimental and control groups, respectively. The rate of wound healing was similar in both groups. While tensile strength of normal intact skin was significantly [P<0.05] higher than that of both groups, it was not different between the study and control groups. Collagen content and its maturity may be responsible for this observation