Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cold therapy helps dogs use leg sooner but slows warming after knee
By Szabo, Stephanie D et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2020·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cryotherapy Improves Limb Use But Delays Normothermia Early After Stifle Joint Surgery in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 dogs recovering from surgery for a knee ligament injury were treated with either cold compression therapy (CCT) or a soft padded bandage. The dogs that received CCT showed better movement and were able to put more weight on their leg compared to those with the bandage. However, the CCT group took longer to warm up after surgery, but their temperature drop was only mild. Overall, CCT helped improve recovery in terms of movement and weight bearing shortly after surgery.
People also search for: dog knee surgery recovery · cold compression therapy for dogs · dog weight bearing after surgery
Abstract
To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of cold compression therapy (CCT) relative to a soft padded bandage (SPB) in dogs undergoing surgery to manage cranial cruciate ligament injury.Dogs were randomized into groups that received CCT or SPB after surgery. Weight bearing was measured using a weight distribution platform before and the day after surgery. Stifle joint flexion and extension were measured using a goniometer before and the day after surgery. Rectal temperatures were measured every 15 min for 2 h after surgery and the morning after surgery. Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) were measured using an algometer the day after surgery. Findings in both groups were compared using a mixed model ANOVA.20 dogs were enrolled: 10 in the CCT and 10 in the SPB group. Dogs undergoing CCT had more stifle joint flexion (= 0.008) and weight bearing (< 0.001) after surgery than dogs with SPB. MNT after surgery correlated statistically with stifle joint flexion after surgery (= -0.315,= 0.014), extension after surgery (= 0.310,= 0.016), and weight bearing after surgery (= 0.314,= 0.003). Return to normothermia was delayed in the CCT group, with temperatures ~0.5°C (1.0°F) lower 105 (= 0.018) and 120 min (= 0.013) after surgery.Relative to bandaging, CCT had a positive short-term impact on stifle flexion and weight bearing. CCT delayed warming after surgery but dogs were only mildly hypothermic [0.5°C [1.0°F]].
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32719817/