Autologous point-of-care stromal vascular fraction transplantation in dogs with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee and hip joints.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess lameness in dogs with advanced osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints after a single autologous point-of-care transplantation of the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) into the affected joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a minilaparotomy, 10 g of falciform fat was removed from each patient for each joint to be treated. A modern and time-saving procedure (ARC TM System, InGeneron GmbH, Houston, USA) was used for the in-house preparation of the SVF, so that the isolated cells could be applied to the respective joint within 2 h after fat removal. In total, five knee joints of five patients and seven hip joints of four patients were treated. RESULTS: Improvement in lameness according to owner questionnaires was seen in 3 of 5 patients with knee joint arthritis and 2 of 4 patients with hip joint arthritis. Based on gait analysis, only one dog with gonarthrosis and one dog with coxarthrosis showed improvement up to a maximum of 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: This is the first case series on the treatment of osteoarthrosis of the knee or hip joint using point-of-care transplantation of the SVF. In individual cases, this method may represent a therapeutic approach for the treatment in dogs with advanced cox- or gonarthrosis, although only a short-term effect can be expected, which calls into question the effort and costs involved.

Long-term outcome after surgical treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in small breed dogs. Comparison of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and extra-articular stifle stabilization.

OBJECTIVE: Cranial cruciate ligament rupture is the most frequently occurring disease of the canine stifle. After introduction of corrective osteotomies of the proximal tibia as surgical treatment option in medium, large and giant breeds, the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) evolved into one of the favorite procedures. In the past small breed dogs have usually been treated by extra-articular stabilization techniques. TPLO has recently become an accepted treatment method in these breeds as well as, and is nowadays used with increasing frequency. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes of TPLO compared to an extra-articular stabilization technique in small breed dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40 stifles of 30 small breed dogs weighing ≤ 15 kg were treated for cranial cruciate ligament rupture with either TPLO (n = 23) or a lateral capsular-fascial imbrication technique (CFI; n = 17). Dogs were clinically examined before and at least 6 months after surgery by treadmill analysis and radiography. Moreover a questionnaire was provided to the owners to assess postoperative function and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 23 operated limbs (91.3%) treated with TPLO and five of 17 (29.4%) treated with the CFI showed absolute values comparable to healthy dogs when evaluated by peak vertical force, vertical impulse and its symmetry index during objective gait analysis. Both groups showed mild, but continuous progression of osteoarthritis. TPLO led to a significantly faster recovery and a higher degree of owner satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Based on clinical examination and objective gait analysis TPLO yielded excellent long-term results and a high degree of owner satisfaction in small breed dogs ≤ 15 kg treated for cranial cruciate ligament rupture. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TPLO seems to be superior to CFI treatment of small breed dogs in this study, although CFI should be considered as treatment option under certain circumstances.