Physiotherapy after cranial cruciate ligament replacement in dogs by using a homologous bone tendon segment preserved in 98% glycerin / Fisioterapia após substituição do ligamento cruzado cranial por segmento teno-ósseo homólogo conservado em glicerina a 98% em cães

ABSTRACT

Background: Cranial cruciate ligament rupture occurs frequently in dogs and causes hind limb lameness because of joint instability. Affected patients require surgical joint reconstruction, which may be extracapsular or intracapsular. To prevent complications caused by limb disuse such as muscular atrophy and ankylosis, physiotherapy is performed postoperatively to improve the quality of life. Accordingly, the present study evaluated the influence of physiotherapy on functional stifle recovery and joint stability in dogs undergoing intracapsular surgical stabilization to repair cruciate ligament rupture.Materials, Methods & Results: Eight dogs were randomly allocated into control (GI, n = 4) and physiotherapy (GII, n = 4) groups. Physiotherapy was initiated immediately postoperatively in the GII group and including the following interventions: cryotherapy, passive joint movement, massage, passive elongation, electrical neuromuscular stimulation, hot hydrotherapy, and underwater treadmill at the major trochanter and tibial malleolus levels. Therapeutic exercises were also performed including walks on grass and hard-floor, ball, ramp, cones, obstacles, platform, and mattress. Gait evaluation, thigh circumference, stifle goniometry, hind limb and stifle radiography, and joint stability (drawer test) were assessed preoperatively, and at 45 and 90 days postoperatively...(AU)