Radiographic, biomechanical, and pathologic effects of hemoglobin glutamer-200 in dogs undergoing cemented total hip arthroplasty

Objective-To determine whether use of hemoglobin glutamer-200 (bovine) as a partial blood volume replacement in dogs undergoing cemented total hip rep lacement caused any deleterious effects on the bone-cement or cement-prosth esis interface, exerted any deleterious effects on body organs, or caused a ny complications during the anesthetic, immediate recovery, or long-term re covery period. Animals-9 adult dogs. Methods-Dogs were anesthetized, and 15% of the blood volume was removed. Si multaneously, lactated Ringer's solution was infused, and 6 dogs were given hemoglobin glutamer (1 g/kg of body weight, IV). Unilateral total hip repl acement was performed. Limb use was assessed visually, and force-plate and radiographic evaluations were performed before, and 8 weeks after, surgery. Eight weeks after surgery, dogs were euthanatized, necropsies were perform ed, and prosthetic component pullout forces were determined. Results-There were no significant differences between treated and control d ogs in regard to biomechanical (visual assessment of gait, force-plate anal ysis, femoral and acetabular component pullout forces) and pathologic evalu ations (physical examination, CBC, serum biochemical analyses, necropsy, an d histologic evaluations). Radiographic signs of loosening of the femoral c omponent were seen in 4 dogs treated with hemoglobin glutamer. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Administration of hemoglobin glutamer as a blood substitute did not appear to have any deleterious effects in dogs undergoing total hip arthroplasty. The radiographic findings, which were di scordant with the biomechanical results, merit further investigation.