Characterization of weight-bearing compensation in dogs with bilateral hip osteoarthritis

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Gait Parameters in Dogs with Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common degenerative disease in dogs, often manifested as pain, joint swelling, and lameness. Despite the lack of scientific evidence for its treatment efficacy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is used in dogs as a pain-relieving treatment. This randomised single-blinded cross-over study investigated the effect of TENS on gait parameters in fifteen dogs with osteoarthritis. Stance time, swing time, stride time, stride length, peak vertical force (%BW), vertical impulse (%BW*sec), and symmetry indices were obtained using a pressure-sensitive mat. TENS treatment of 80 Hz and 100 µs with an individually selected amplitude was conducted for 45 min once daily for a treatment period of seven or ten days. No significant differences were seen between TENS and placebo for any of the gait parameters. Hence, in this study, TENS did not affect gait parameters, compared to placebo. Further studies are needed to confirm the observations.

Minimal Clinically Important Differences for a Weight Distribution Platform in Dogs with Osteoarthritis

In this retrospective study to determine the optimal method of evaluating static weight-bearing distribution to assess response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis using a weight distribution platform, data from the Clinica Veterinária de Cães (Portuguese Republican National Guard) clinical records were extracted. At baseline and at 15 days post-treatment, follow-up data from 80 dogs treated for bilateral hip osteoarthritis were categorized based on an anchor question. Estimates of minimal clinically important differences were calculated with distribution-based and anchor-based methods for deviation from normal weight-bearing and a symmetry index (SI). For deviation, the anchor-based methods provided a range from -0.3 to -3.1, and the distribution-based methods from 0.16 to 0.29. For SI, the anchor-based methods provided a range from -10.0 to -23.9, and the distribution-based methods from 1.31 to 2.88. Receiver operator characteristic curves provided areas under the curve >0.7, indicating an acceptable cut-off point. We presented estimates of -1 for deviation and -10 for SI in dogs with OA. These estimates can be used for research and patient monitoring. Future studies should include OA from other joints and animals from a broader clinical context.

A Preliminary Report on the Combined Effect of Intra-Articular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections and Photobiomodulation in Canine Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is highly prevalent in the canine population. Due to the multiple dimensions of the disease, a multimodal approach is usually favored by clinicians. To evaluate the combined treatment with intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and photobiomodulation in dogs with bilateral hip OA, thirty dogs were assigned to a PRP group (PRPG, n = 10), a photobiomodulation group (PBMTG, n = 10), or a combined therapies group (PRP+PBMTG, n = 10). The PRPG received two intra-articular administrations of platelet-rich plasma 14 days apart. The PBMTG received photobiomodulation with a therapeutic laser, with three sessions every other day in week one; two sessions in week two; a single session in week three; and one session/month on follow-up evaluation days. The PRP+PBMTG received the two combined therapies. The response to treatment was evaluated with weight-bearing distribution and the Canine Brief Pain Inventory, the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs, and the Canine Orthopedic Index. Evaluations were conducted before treatment and +8, +15, +30, +60, and +90 days after initial treatment. Normality was assessed with a Shapiro-Wilk test, and the groups' results in each evaluation moment were compared using a Mann-Whitney U test. Animals of both sexes (male n = 19, female n = 11) were included in the sample, with a mean age of 7.8 ± 2.5 years and a body weight of 26.5 ± 4.7 kg. Joints were classified as mild (n = 6, three in PRPG, two in PBMTG, and one in PRP+PBMTG), moderate (n = 18, six in PRPG, five in PBMTG, and seven in PRP+PBMTG), and severe (n = 6, one in PRPG, three in PBMTG, and two in PRP+PBMTG). No differences were found between groups at the initial evaluation. All treatments produced clinically significant improvements compared to the assessment on treatment day. The combination of PRP and photobiomodulation produced greater, longer-lasting improvements. PRP and photobiomodulation can improve objective outcomes and client-reported outcome measures in dogs with OA. Their combined use leads to greater, longer-lasting, clinically significant improvements.

Minimal clinically-important differences for the "Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs" (LOAD) and the "Canine Orthopedic Index" (COI) in dogs with osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in companion animals. Several client-report outcome measures (CROMs) have been developed and validated to monitor patients and their response to treatment. However, estimates for minimal clinically-important differences for these CROMs in the context of osteoarthritis have not been published.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data from the Clínica Veterinária de Cães (Portuguese Gendarmerie Canine Clinic) clinical records were extracted. Baseline and 30-day post-treatment follow-up data from 296 dogs treated for hip osteoarthritis were categorized based on an anchor question, and estimates of minimal clinically-important differences (MCIDs) using distribution-based and anchor-based methods were performed.

RESULTS

For the LOAD, the anchor-based methods provided a MCID estimate range of -2.5 to -9.1 and the distribution-based methods from 1.6 to 4.2. For the COI, the anchor-based methods provided a MCID estimate range of -4.5 to -16.6 and the distribution-based methods from 2.3 to 2.4. For the dimensions of COI, values varied from -0.5 to -4.9 with the anchor-based methods and from 0.6 to 2.7 with the distribution-based methods. Receiver operator characteristic curves provided areas under the curve >0.7 for the COI, indicating an acceptable cut-off point, and >0.8 for the LOAD, indicating an excellent cut-off point.

CONCLUSION

Our estimates of MCIDs for dogs with OA were consistent with previously proposed values of -4 for the LOAD and -14 for the COI in a post-surgical intervention context. ROC curve data suggest that LOAD may more reliably differentiate between anchor groups. We also presented estimates from COI of -4 for Stiffness, Function, and Gait and -3 for quality of life. These estimates can be used for research and patient monitoring.

Effects of different obesogenic diets on joint integrity, inflammation and intermediate monocyte levels in a rat groove model of osteoarthritis

Introduction: Obesogenic diets aggravate osteoarthritis (OA) by inducing low-grade systemic inflammation, and diet composition may affect OA severity. Here, we investigated the effect of diet on joint damage and inflammation in an OA rat model. Methods: Wistar-Han rats (n = 24) were fed a chow, a high-fat (HF) diet, or a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) for 24 weeks. OA was induced unilaterally 12 weeks after the diet onset by groove surgery, and compared to sham surgery or no surgical intervention (contralateral limb). Knee OA severity was determined by OARSI histopathology scoring system. At several timepoints monocyte populations were measured using flow cytometry, and joint macrophage response was determined via CD68 immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Groove surgery combined with HF or HFS diet resulted in higher OARSI scores, and both HF and HFS diet showed increased circulating intermediate monocytes compared to chow fed rats. Additionally, in the HFS group, minimal damage by sham surgery resulted in an increased OARSI score. HFS diet resulted in the largest metabolic dysregulation, synovial inflammation and increased CD68 staining in tibia epiphysis bone marrow. Conclusion: Obesogenic diets resulted in aggravated OA development, even with very minimal joint damage when combined with the sucrose/fat-rich diet. We hypothesize that diet-induced low-grade inflammation primes monocytes and macrophages in the blood, bone marrow, and synovium, resulting in joint damage when triggered by groove OA inducing surgery. When the metabolic dysregulation is larger, as observed here for the HFS diet, the surgical trigger required to induce joint damage may be smaller, or even redundant.