REHABILITATION OF DOGS WITH SURGICALLY TREATED CRANIAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT-DEFICIENT STIFLES BY USE OF ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION OF MUSCLES

Objective-To determine effect of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) o n rate and degree of return to function of the limb and development of degenerative joint disease (DJD) after surgical creation and subseque nt stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)-deficient sti fle. Animals-12 clinically normal adult large (19.5 to 31.5 kg) dogs. Procedure-Dogs were anesthetized, and the right CrCL was severed via a rthrotomy, destabilizing the stifle. After 3 weeks, the stifle was sur gically stabilized. Three weeks later, 6 dogs were subjected to an EMS treatment protocol for the thigh muscles. At 5, 9, 13, and 19 weeks a fter stifle destabilization, treated in = 6) and control in = 6) dogs were evaluated fcr return of stifle function. Gross and histologic eva luations of the stifles were performed at 19 weeks after stifle destab ilization. Results-Treated dogs had significantly (P = 0.001) better l ameness score than did control dogs. There was less palpable crepitati on of the stifle in treated dogs (P = 0.06); treated dogs also had sig nificantly (P = 0.01) fewer radiographic signs of bone changes. Thigh circumference was significantly (P = 0.02) larger in treated dogs. The re was less gross cartilage damage (P = 0.07) in the EMS-treated dogs, but more medial meniscal damage (P = 0.058, cranial pole; P = 0.051, caudal pole). Conclusions-Improved lameness scores, larger thigh circu mference, and decreased radiographically apparent bony changes observe d for the treated group of dogs support the hypothesis that dogs treat ed by EMS after surgical stabilization of the CrCL-deficient stifle ha d improved limb function, with less DJD. than did dogs treated with th e currently accepted clinical protocol of cage rest and slow return to normal activity. However, results of force plate evaluation did not s upport the hypothesis. Increased meniscal damage in dogs treated by EM S may be cause for concern.