Alexandre Navarro Alves de Souza

Evaluation of vertical forces in the pads of German Shepherd dogs

OBJECTIVE To evaluate vertical forces in the pads of German Shepherd dogs by relative percentage among total limb vertical forces using a pressure sensitive walkway. PROCEDURE A pressure sensitive walkway was used to collect vertical force data for each pad of the limbs of 16 healthy client-owned German Shepherd dogs used for kinetic gait analysis. The vertical force for each pad was evaluated as a percentage of total limb vertical force. Weight distribution among limbs was also recorded. Velocity and acceleration were within a range of 1.3 and 1.6 ± 0.1 m/s². The ANOVA test was used to compare data and the paired t-test was used to assess symmetry (p <0.05). RESULTS The peak vertical force was higher on the metacarpal pad than on the metatarsal pad. Peak vertical force was highest on the metacarpal pad and metatarsal pad followed by the digital pads 3, 4 and 5 of the forelimb, and on the hindlimb by digital pads 3 and 4. Vertical impulse was greatest in the metacarpal pad and digital pads 3 and 4 of the forelimb and hindlimb respectively, followed by digital pads 3, 4, and 5 of the forelimb and the metatarsal pad. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A vertical force distribution pattern was observed on the pads of the German Shepherd dogs. These data are important for improving the understanding of vertical force distribution during gait and to assess orthopaedic conditions.

Radial shock wave therapy in dogs with hip osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE The study aims were to evaluate the effects of radial shock wave therapy (RSWT) in dogs with hip osteoarthritis (OA) using clinical assessment and kinetic analysis. METHODS Thirty dogs diagnosed with bilateral hip OA and 30 healthy dogs were used. In OA dogs, one limb was randomly selected for treatment with RSWT while the contralateral limb served as an untreated control. Dogs were evaluated while walking on a pressure walkway. Peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) were documented; symmetry index (SI) was also calculated. Blinded clinical evaluation was performed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Owner perception data regarding levels of physical activity were also collected. The RSWT protocol (2000 pulses, 10 Hz, 2-3.4 bars) consisted of three weekly treatment sessions (days 1, 8 and 16). Follow-up data were collected 30, 60 and 90 days after the first session. Data were compared between time points, groups and limbs pairs. RESULTS At the end of the experimental period, mean PVF and VI values had increased (25.9 to 27.6%BW and 2.1 to 12.7%BW × s respectively) in treated limbs, with no significant differences in control limbs; SI values suggest improvement. Mean PVF and VI remained lower in the treated compared to the healthy group following treatment. The VAS scores suggested improvement in pain and lameness in treated dogs. Owner perception data suggested improved levels of physical activity following treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Outcomes of this study suggested beneficial effects of RSWT in dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Vertical forces assessment according to radiographic hip grade in German shepherd dogs

OBJECTIVE To investigate the correlation between radiographic hip grade and kinetic parameters in German shepherd dogs. METHODS Dogs were distributed into five groups of eight dogs each according to hip grade (A, B, C, D or E). Dogs were submitted to clinical evaluation and kinetic analysis. Five valid passages were analysed using data collected from a pressure walkway. Peak vertical force, vertical impulse and stance phase duration were evaluated at velocity (1 · 2 to 1 · 4 m/s) ±0 · 1 m/s(2) acceleration. Kinetic data between groups were compared. RESULTS In pelvic limbs, mean peak vertical force decreased progressively from grade C (mild) to grade E (severe) hip dysplasia. The vertical impulse was decreased in groups C and E compared to groups A, B and D; stance phase duration did not differ significantly between groups. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Mean peak vertical force was lower in dogs with severe hip dysplasia compared with mildly dysplastic dogs. These results suggest that hip dysplasia degree can affect lameness severity.

Vertical force analysis in dogs with hip osteoarthritis undergoing treatment with chondroprotectors

This study was aimed at evaluating vertical forces generated during locomotion in dogs affected with hiposteoarthritis (OA) submitted to chondroprotective treatment with chondroitin sulphate and lucosamine(CS-GLU). Eighteen dysplastic dogs suffering from secondary bilateral hip OA and treated with CS-GLU(200mg and 300mg/10kg/SID respectively) for 60 days (treated group), and 18 lameness free dogs withnormal hip joints (healthy group) were evaluated. A pressure sensitive walkway was used to measure peakvertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI) and stance phase (SP) duration. Data collection was performed prior to and within 30 and 60 days of treatment (treated group), or on a single occasion (healthy group). Longitudinal and intergroup comparisons were made using repeated measures ANOVA followed by the Tukey post-hoc test and the unpaired t-test respectively, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Mean peak vertical force did not differ significantly within the treated group. However, mean PVF and VI were lower in the treated compared to the control group. A slight increase in mean VI was documented in one treated limbat time points 30 and 60. Results of this study suggest hip OA leads to decreased weight bearing and treatmentwith CS-GLU does not improve PVF in the short term.

Fratura proximal de tíbia após cirurgia extracapsular para correção de ruptura de ligamento cruzado cranial em cão

Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is one of the most common orthopedic diseases in dogs and extracapsular suture with nylon is often used for its correction. This technique may be associated with incisional complications, post-surgical meniscus injury, swelling associated with suture material and infection. The objective of this study is to report a tibial fracture in a dog, caused by complications after an extracapsular suture for the repair of CCLR. An adult dog, which suffered a tibial fracture after an extracapsular fixation for a CCLR, underwent surgery for the fixation of the fracture with a 2.0mm plate, by a referring veterinarian, but the implant failed. The plate was removed and the fracture was stabilized with a circular fixator. Bone consolidation was observed after 120 days.