Die Radiosynoviorthese (RSO) in der Therapie der Lahmheit des Hundes

Abstract

In human medicine radiosynorviorthesis(RSO) is an established form of therapy in chronic inflammatory or active degenerative joint disease. Chronic lameness in dogs as a result of joint disease is a common problem. This study was carried out to establish the role of RSO in chronic inflammatory or active degenerative joint disease in dogs. In 33 dogs with 51 joints with ostearthritis RSO was performed. Before treatment a classification of 4 grades of lameness was determined in each dog. 4 weeks and 7 months later a new assessment considering this classification was performed to determine the change of lameness grade. Improvement of lameness was found in 43-75% of joints, the improvement was dependent on grade of synovitic activity before therapy. There were no side effects observed. The dogs with distinct effusion and the dogs which responded well to intraarticulary steroid injection beforehand, showed the best results. In these dogs RSO lead to obvious prolonged lamefree intervalls and a marked reduction of pain medication and therefore to a better quality of life.