Pain management in dogs undergoing knee surgery

What qualifies my pet for enrollment in this in this trial?

• Dogs weighing between 15-50 kg
• Hind limb lameness (Only one side)
• Diagnosed with rupture of knee ligaments (cranial cruciate ligament rupture) and scheduled for TPLO surgery.
• Dogs must have an otherwise normal physical examination. 
   

What does enrolling my pet in this clinical trial involve?

Your dog will undergo the following procedures:

1. Dogs will have a complete physical and orthopedic examination in the normal course of the orthopedic appointment.
2. Further screening will include radiographs of the affected limb and full blood work and urinalysis.
3. Dogs will be randomized into one of 3 study groups (all groups receive pain medication(s)); your dog has a 1/3 chance of being in each of the groups. If on pain medications prior to surgery, a 5 to 30 day "wash-out" (depending on the exact medication) ("wash out" = no pain medications) will be required prior to surgery.
4. Upon return to the hospital for surgery, we will perform a gait analysis (walking on a pressure-sensing mat), pain scoring, and a blood draw for drug levels.
5. A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) surgery will be performed in standard fashion with standard anesthesia.
6. Each enrolled dog will stay in-hospital for 2 days after surgery for pain assessment and treatment, gait analysis, and blood draw for drug levels.
7. Study patients will be sent home with 12 days of pain medications, and we will need to see each dog back at 12 days after surgery for suture removal as well as pain assessment, gait analysis, and blood draw for drug levels.
8. Following the 12-day post-operative appointment, the study will be finished but we will continue to work with each case during the normal 3-4 month recovery period from TPLO surgery.
    

Client Compensation

Participants will receive a $200 credit toward their account at the VMC. Blood work (CBC, chemistry, drug levels), and urinalysis will also be performed at no cost to clients. Additionally, 1 day of hospitalization and all study medication will be provided at no cost.