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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2016; 29(04): 338-343
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-15-11-0183
Clinical Communication
Schattauer GmbH

Effect of single dose radiation therapy on weight-bearing lameness in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis

Amy S. Kapatkin
1   Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
,
Barbro Nordquist
2   Evidensia Strömsholm Specialty Hospital, Strömsholm, Sweden
,
Tanya C. Garcia
3   Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
,
Maureen A. Griffin
4   School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
,
Alain Theon
1   Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
,
Sun Kim
5   Veterinary Medical Center, East Lansing, MI, USA
,
Kei Hayashi
6   Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 11 November 2015

Accepted: 11 April 2016

Publication Date:
17 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Objectives: To determine if a single low dose of radiation therapy in dogs with osteoarthritis of the elbow joint was associated with a detectable improvement in their lameness and pain as documented by force platform gait analysis.

Methods: In this cohort longitudinal observational study, five Labrador Retrievers with lameness due to elbow osteoarthritis that was unresponsive to medical treatment were removed from all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications. A single treatment of radiation therapy delivering 10 Gray was performed on the affected elbow joint(s). Force platform gait analysis was used to assess the ground reaction forces of a limb affected with elbow osteoarthritis both before and after radiation therapy.

Results: Significant differences occurred in the weight-bearing on an affected limb with elbow osteoarthritis after radiation therapy at weeks six and 14. Change due to treatment was particularly apparent in dogs with unilateral elbow osteoarthritis.

Clinical significance: Administering a single low dose of radiation therapy may have a short-term benefit in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis, which is similar to the evidence supporting the use of radiation therapy in horses with orthopaedic disease.

Keywords

Elbow - osteoarthritis - radiotherapy - force platform gait analysis
 

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