Ibrahim, Rashid

S., Norhayati

Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository

Agricultural SciencesR. Ibrahim and 5. NorhayatiAn Assessment of Diseased Cats and Dogs Stifle Joints Treated with SonotronFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversiti Putra Malaysia43400 UPM, Serdang, SelangorMalaysiaE-mail ofCorrespondingAuthor:rashid@vet.upm.edu.myKey words: osteoarthritis, stifle joint, disease, cats, dogs, sonotron.IntroductionOsteoarthritis or degenerative jointdisease account for 37% of lameness indogs (Bennet, 1980). The sonotron(Sonotron Medical System Inc., ADMTronics et al. Unlimited., Northvale,New Jersey), a pulsed radio frequencytherapy (PRFf) is a non-invasive de-vise which employs modulated radiofrequency energy of 430 kHz (430,000cycles per sec., long waves) in the formof a visible and audible (I kHz or 1,000cycles per sec.) discharge beam ema-nating from a discharge electrode. Thedischarge is emitted through a hand-held applicator and is applied in a cir-cular motion directly over the joint orinjured area as a form of treatmentunits (TU). The number of TU de-pends on the size and degree of in-flammation. Studies had been per-formed on rats (Sciubba, unpublishedreport) and horses (Crawford et.al.,1991; Equi-Tech.). A multi centre,placebo-controlled comparative clinicaltrials involving human patients withosteoarthritis of the knee, patients re-ceiving PRFf (sonotron) treatmentreported greater reduction of pain,improvement in function and no ad-verse effect. The effect of PRFf onarthritic and non-arthritic joints couldbe measured by comparing synovialfluid parameters, the degree and dura-tion of lameness, the range of stiflemotion for the treated and untreatedgroups. Lesions could also be exam-ined radiographically, at gross pathol-ogy and histopathology between thesetwo groups. However the synovialfluid analysis is the most effectivec1inico-pathologic procedure availablein determining the cause, type, durationand prognosis of the joint disorders.The current interest in canine stiflejoint diseases together with the numer-ous orthopaedic approaches for thecorrection of canine stifle injuries, andthe use of the canine stifle as a modelfor human operative techniques andprosthetic substitutions for knee inju-ries, has led to extensive investigationsin canine arthrocentesis and joint fluidanalysis.Objectives/Purpose of the work: Theobjectives of the work include the fol-lowing:To determine the safety and effective-ness of PRFf treatment of stifle jointsin cats and dogs; to record and assessthe outcome of PRFf treatment asdegree of pain and mobility of the stiflejoints; and to observe how cat and dogpatients react towards this type of ther-apy.For this study, 30 healthy local breeddogs compounded by Dewan Banda-raya Kuala Lumpur would be selected.The dogs both males and femalesweigh between 20-30 kg. The dogsselected would be normal on physicalexaminations, gait examinations andblood profiles. During the period ofstudy routine rectal temperature, pulseand respiration would be monitored.Daily gait examination would bescored. The dogs would be dividedinto three groups with each dog's leftstifle and right stifle being treated dif-ferently. Within each of the threegroups, dogs would receive either noPRFf treatment, level 1 PRFf or level2 PRFT treatments. All the left stifleswould undergo arthrocentesis only.The right stifle in the first group wouldbe induced with arthritis at day 1 andPRFf treated; the second group wouldundergo arthrocentesis at day I andPRFf treated; while the third groupwould be induced with arthritis at day1,5,15 and PRFT treated.A scoring system had been tabulatedfor the purpose of Lameness evalua-tion; Radiographic evaluation; Synovialfluid evaluation; Gross pathologyevaluation; and Histopathologyevaluation of synovial membranes,synovial fibrous tissues, and articularcartilage and bone.Results and DiscussionExperimental study has not com-menced. However preliminary workon PRFT on cats and dogs with jointproblems, both traumatic and non-traumatic had been conducted. All thecats and dogs underwent the therapywithout sedation and did not object tothe audible discharge from the appli-cator; the patients seem to allow theapplication without much disturbanceand seem to indicate at ease while un-dergoing the treatment. There weresigns of improvement in the ease ofusing the affected joints and longerdistance and time of use of the treatedlimbs.The output power of the sonotron de-vice is 8 watts and a human patient isexposed to the corona output for shortperiods between 45 seconds to 3 min-utes depending on the size and densityof the joint. After a series of 3 to 5treatments, human patients have re-ported pain-relief, which lasted forcomparatively long periods, typicallyaveraging 4 to 6 months. There hasbeen no reported side effects orhazards.ConclusionsWhen the study is completed it wouldenhance the non-invasive treatmentusing PRFf in both the human andveterinary patients. However the un-derstanding of how the PRFf worksmay not be available as yet.Benefits from the studyThis study benefits the pet owner aswell as the surgeon and increase stu-dents' skills in orthopedic managementof joints using PRFf.The safety and effectiveness of PRFfon affected joints could be determined.121UPM Research Report 1997-2000, Section 2-Extended AbstractsThe non-invasive therapy could benefitthe human as well as the veterinarypatients with joints problems.A new dimension of treatment for jointarthritis would change the function andlives of patients affected.Literature cited in the textBrenner, S.. Dutkowsky, C. 1996. Non-invasive treatment of nerve entrapmentsyndrome with the sonotron: a pulsedradio frequency therapeutic device.http://www.sonotron.comldukowsky.htm122Crawford, W.H., Houge, J.C., Neirby, D.T.,Di Mino, A., Di Mino, A.A. 1991. Pulsedradio frequency therapy of experimentallyinduced arthritis in ponies. Can. J. Vel.Res. 55: 76-85.Tronics, A.D.M.1997. Sonotron FactSheet. http://www.sonotron.comlfactshet.htrn.Tronics, A.D.M.1997. Electronic devicefound effective in treating Carpal TunnelSyndrome.http://www.sonotron.comlpr97rnr31.htmTronics, A.D.M.l997. Vet-Sonotron Equi-Tech Therapy. http://www.admtronics.comlvet-sono.htm.Project Publications inRefereed JournalsNone.Project Publication sinConference ProceedingsNone.Graduate ResearchNone.

An assessment of diseased cats and dogs stifle joints treated with sonotron

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An assessment of diseased cats and dogs stifle joints treated with sonotron

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