Platelet-rich plasma to treat experimentally-induced skin wounds in animals : a systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of the study was to review current literature to determine whether the topical application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes healing in experimentally-induced full-thickness skin wounds in animals. The hypothesis was that the adjunct of PRP has a positive effect on wound healing. An electronic search was carried out on the following databases: Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Research Gate, Cochrane Wounds Group, Veterinary Information Network. No publication date nor language restrictions were applied. Randomised and not randomised controlled clinical trials comparing PRP with placebo or with other treatments were included. The reduction of open wound area in PRP-treated (test) wounds compared to control wounds was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were healing time and number of healed cases in test group compared to control. The following effect sizes were calculated: the Hedges\u2019 g for continuous variables; the odds ratio for binary data. Eighteen controlled clinical trials were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis, with a total of 661 wounds. All studies were published in the period 2007\u20132016. Eight studies were carried out on rodent/lagomorph mammals and 10 on non-rodent/lagomorph mammals. In all included studies, control wounds underwent placebo or were left untreated. The PRP group showed a better healing performance than the control group in each outcome. The effect size was statistically significant considering the primary outcome and the overall aggregation of the three outcomes. The effect size, although in favour of the treatment with PRP, was not significant considering the healing time and the number of healings. The overall heterogeneity was mild or moderate. Five studies reported a high risk of selection bias. The publication bias was always mild or absent. The results support the hypothesis of the positive effects of the PRP when compared to control groups in the treatment of experimentally-induced full-thickness skin wounds in animals. PRP can therefore be considered an effective adjunctive therapy in stimulating second intention healing of acute wounds in healthy animals

Omini procedure, a modified over-the-top approach for the reconstruction of the cranial cruciate ligament in the dog using an artificial implant: a cadaveric study

Objective: to describe and evaluate a new intra-articular approach for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency in dogs using an artificial ligament and new bone anchors. Study design: ex vivo study. Animals: twelve canine cadavers weighting between 26 and 45 kg. Methods: a cranio-lateral approach was made to the stifle joint. An 8 mm hole was drilled in the tibia in the center of the insertion area of the cranial cruciate ligament. A helicoil with a modified tibial screw connected to an artificial ligament were inserted in the hole and the ligament was passed through the stifle in accordance with the “over-the-top” procedure. A second 8 mm tunnel was drilled in the distal femur and a helicoil and a modified femoral screw was inserted. The artificial ligament was inserted in the eyelet of the femoral screw, tensioned and fixed in place. After apposing the soft tissues, the cranial drawer sign and the cranial tibial thrust were tested and medio-lateral and a cranio-caudal projection radiographs were performed. Results: post-operative assessment showed a negative cranial drawer test and a negative cranial tibial thrust, with good limb alignment and a normal ROM of the stifle joint. The radiographic control showed correct insertion of both tibial and femoral implants in all cases. Conclusions: this novel technique did not require a long learning curve and these initial mechanical tests of the new implant are encouraging. Further studies are necessary to investigate the effectiveness of this procedure “in vivo”

Studio comparativo sull'efficacia del tramadolo verso il meloxicam nel controllo del dolore ortopedico postoperatorio nel cane

Riassunto Lo studio monocentrico, randomizzato, in doppio cieco è stato intrapreso per valutare l’effetto analgesico postoperatorio del tramadolo (Contramal, Formenti) rispetto al meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim) in 16 cani (gruppo T, tramadolo: n=8; gruppo M, meloxicam: n=8) sottoposti a chirurgia ortopedica, che presentavano un dolore postoperatorio uguale o superiore a 66 mm in una scala analogica visuale (VAS) di 100 mm, 6 ore dopo intervento chirurgico. Il gruppo T è stato trattato con tramadolo per os 4 mg/kg una volta al dì per 5 giorni, mentre al gruppo M è stato somministrato meloxicam per os 0,2 mg/kg una volta al dì per lo stesso periodo. L’effetto analgesico è stato valutato tutti i giorni ed alla fine del trattamento mediante la misurazione della VAS a 100 mm e di una scala semiquantitativa a 5 punti che prendeva in considerazione il tipo di risposta dell’animale alla palpazione della parte oggetto di intervento (0 = nessun dolore, 1 = dolore leggero, 2 = dolore moderato, 3 = dolore forte, 4 = dolore molto forte). Il tramadolo e il meloxicam hanno significativamente ridotto la misura della VAS e della scala semiquantitativa del dolore (P < 0,01). L’effetto analgesico del tramadolo si è dimostrato significativamente superiore a quello indotto dal meloxicam, sia dopo la prima somministrazione, sia alla fine del trattamento (P < 0,01 e P < 0,05). Nel gruppo trattato con tramadolo non è stata osservata l’insorgenza di alcuna reazione avversa, mentre nel gruppo trattato con meloxicam un soggetto ha manifestato sintomatologia gastrointestinale, risoltasi spontaneamente. Summary This monocentric, randomized, double blind trial was undertaken to assess the postoperative analgesic effect of oral tramadol compared with oral meloxicam in 16 dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery and having postoperative pain assessed as 66 mm or more on a 0-100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Tramadol (4 mg/kg) and meloxicam (0,2 mg/kg) were administered orally every day for 5 days. The analgesic effect was assessed at baseline (6 hours after surgery), before each treatment and 24 hours after the last administration, with VAS measurements, and using a five-point semiquantitative rating scale after palpation on the surgery site (0 = no pain, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = strong, 4 = very strong). Tramadol and meloxicam were well tolerated reducing both VAS and the semiquantitative rating scale (P < 0,01), but tramadol showed a more pronounced analgesic effect than meloxicam (P < 0,05). No adverse reactions were observed in the tramadol group, whereas one dog trea- ted with meloxicam showed gastrointestinal adverse effects which, however, resolved spontaneously

Produzione ed applicazioni cliniche del gel piastrinico nel cane: valutazione preliminare.

The platelet gel is a autologous or heterologous hemo-component for topical use by the aggregation of a platelet pellet with calcium and biological or pharmacological activating factors. The platelets in the clot act as reservoir and source of different growth factors involved in the reparation and recovery of the tissues. The authors report a method for the preparation of autologous platelet gel in dogs and some preliminary applications in two groups of animals showing spontaneous injury: chronic skin and orthopaedic lesions. In the present work, the production of platelet gel has been cheap and easy; the final product has been an aseptic gel contained a good number of platelets. For the skin lesions the clinical outcomes have always been positive, and in the orthopaedics group the processes of recovery and reparation have occurred without delays. The results encourage to perform further studies to evaluate the possibility of a wider clinical application

Surrenectomia mediante impiego di sistema chirurgico laser CO2 in un furetto

The authors present a case of adrenal gland neoplasia in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo), neutered male, 3.5 years old. Surgical removal of the affected gland has been performed by means of a CO2 laser surgical system. Some noteworthy advantages have been showed in comparison with traditional adrenalectomy: a lower bleeding during surgical procedure, a smaller tissue damage, and a remarkable accuracy during use