Effects of nandrolone decanoate on time to consolidation of bone defects resulting from osteotomy for tibial tuberosity advancement.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nandrolone decanoate (ND) on the time taken for bone consolidation in dogs undergoing tibial tuberosity advancement surgery (TTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen dogs that underwent TTA surgery were randomly divided into two groups: group C (TTA; 9 stifles), and group TTA+ND (TTA and systemic administration of ND; 8 stifles). Three observers (two radiologists and an orthopaedic surgeon), assessed bone consolidation by visual inspection of serial radiographs at intervals of 21 days following surgery. RESULTS: There were no differences in median weight and age between groups, nor between the medians of the variables right and left stifle. Only weight and age values were normally distributed. The other variables, right and left stifle and time to consolidation, showed non-normal distribution. Meniscal injury was present in all animals in group C and all animals in group TTA+ND. There was a significant difference between time to consolidation in groups C and TTA+ND (p <0.05). One animal in the group TTA+ND showed increased libido. Kappa agreement among observers on radiographs was 0.87. CONCLUSION: Administration of ND reduces time to bone consolidation in dogs undergoing TTA.

Cardiorespiratory, sedative and antinociceptive effects of dexmedetomidine alone or in combination with methadone, morphine or tramadol in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiorespiratory, sedative and antinociceptive effects of dexmedetomidine alone or in combination with methadone, morphine or tramadol in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, blinded, randomized, crossover study. ANIMALS: Six mixed breed dogs (two males and four females) weighing 10 ± 4 kg. METHODS: The animals were randomly divided into four treatments: D (10 µg kg(-1) of dexmedetomidine), DM (dexmedetomidine 10 µg kg(-1) and methadone 0.5 mg kg(-1)); DMO (dexmedetomidine 10 µg kg(-1) and morphine 0.5 mg kg(-1)), and DT (dexmedetomidine 10 µg kg(-1) and tramadol 2 mg kg(-1)). The combinations were administered intramuscularly in all treatments. The variables evaluated were heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (f(R)), rectal temperature (RT), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), sedation scale and pedal withdrawal reflex. These variables were measured at T0 (immediately before the administration of the protocol) and every 15 minutes thereafter until T105. RESULTS: A decrease in HR and f(R) occurred in all the treatments compared with T0, but no significant difference was observed between the treatments. The RT decreased from T45 onward in all the treatments. The SAP did not show a difference between the treatments, but in the DT treatment, the SAP was lower at T30 and T45 compared with T0. The D treatment had lower scores of sedation at T15 to T75 compared with the other treatments, and the DMO and DM treatments showed higher scores at T60 and T75 compared with DT. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The treatments with morphine and methadone added to the dexmedetomidine showed higher sedation scores than the control treatment and the treatment with tramadol added to the dexmedetomidine showed no relevant differences in any of the variables evaluated in the study.