Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Radiation therapy to ease elbow lameness in dogs with arthritis
By Kapatkin, Amy S et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2016·University of California-Davis, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of single dose radiation therapy on weight-bearing lameness in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of five Labrador Retrievers with elbow osteoarthritis (a painful joint condition) that wasn't improving with medication were given a single low dose of radiation therapy. After treatment, the dogs showed noticeable improvement in their lameness and were able to bear more weight on the affected leg, especially at six and fourteen weeks post-treatment. This suggests that radiation therapy could provide short-term relief for dogs suffering from this type of joint pain.
People also search for: dog elbow arthritis treatment · Labrador Retriever lameness · radiation therapy for dog pain · dog joint pain relief options
Abstract
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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27432273/