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Cartrophen Vet treatment in FCP, OCD and articular surgery

Articular Surgery

Due to its ability to enhance anabolic and repair processes, and reduce catabolic and destructive processes, Cartrophen Vet has been regularly used as a post-operative recovery adjunct.

 

Fragmented coronoid process (FCP) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)

FCP and OCD are musculoskeletal disorders that are generally defined by malformation of the joint and/or the subchondral bone. Should these not be treated they can lead to the development of OA.

Cartrophen Vet has been studied as a medical alternative to surgical treatment of OCD and FCP of the canine elbow (Bouck et al., 1995). Nineteen dogs admitted for treatment of FCP and/or OCD of the elbow were studied. Ten dogs received surgical treatment and nine dogs received medical treatment (4 injections of Cartrophen Vet 3mg/kg given once a week subcutaneously).

Over a nine-month period Cartrophen Vet was shown to be a valid alternative to surgical treatment of FCP and OCD of the canine elbow.

At the conclusion of the study, lameness scores had improved in seven of ten (70%) surgically treated dogs and five of nine (56%) medically treated dogs. At no time was there a significant difference between the mean lameness scores for the two treatment groups.

The degree of elbow joint pain decreased in both the surgical group (67%) and medical group (67%) at the end of the study. The degree of joint pain in one or both elbows decreased in both the surgical group (80%) and medical group (78%) at the end of the study. No significant differences were observed.

Force plate analysis showed that the mean mean vertical force (MVF) in the more affected limbs of the surgical group was significantly lower than the mean MVF for the medical group at 2 months. At 4 months and for the remainder of the study (9 month study) there was no significant difference with respect to mean MVF in the more affected limb.

In the forelimbs of dogs with symmetrical lameness, there was no difference between the mean Peak Vertical Force (PVF) and mean MVF for the surgical, medical or control group (the control group comprised six mixed breed dogs of similar body type, weight and age).

 

Cranial Cruciate Injury

In a recent clinical study client owned dogs admitted for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament instability underwent extra capsular stabilization of the stifle with or without partial meniscectomy. Dogs were randomly assigned to either 3mg/kg Cartrophen Vet or placebo treatment (both injected subcutaneously, weekly for 4 weeks) Dogs were split based on initial radiographic scores.

Cartrophen Vet dogs improved significantly faster in breaking force than placebo dogs The study denotes improvements with Cartrophen Vet over placebo at 6 weeks. Cartrophen Vet administered after stabilization of the cruciate deficient stifle may prove to be a useful adjunctive treatment option (Budsberg et al., 2007).

* PPS treated groups significantly different from baseline at P<0.05;
# Placebo treated groups significantly different from baseline at P<0.05

 

REFERENCES

Bouck G, Miller C, Taves C (1995), A Comparison of Surgical and Medical Treatment of Fragmented Coronoid Process and Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Canine Elbow, Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 8: 177-183.

Budsberg S, Bergh M, Reynolds L, Streppa H (2007), Evaluation of Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium in the Postoperative Recovery from Cranial Cruciate Injury in Dogs: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial, Veterinary Surgery 36:234–244)