Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the postoperative analgesic and adverse effects of three doses of dexamethasone, administered epidurally in combination with lignocaine, in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Methods: Twenty-four female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy were pre-medicated with acepromazine and general anaesthesia was induced and maintained with propofol. Animals were randomly allocated into four groups of six. The control group was given lignocaine 2% (LI) and the treatment groups were given lignocaine with either 2 mg dexamethasone (LIDEX2), 4 mg dexamethasone (LIDEX4) or 8 mg dexamethasone (LIDEX8) administered at the lumbosacral epidural space. Duration of postoperative analgesia, first analgesic rescue, motor blockade, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature were evaluated. Results: The duration of postoperative analgesia was 19.5 (SD 6) hours for LIDEX8 (p=0.001), 10 (SD 2) hours for LIDEX4 (p=0.002), 4 (SD 2) hours for LIDEX2 (p=0.074) treatments compared with values for the LI control treatment 2.2 (SD 1.6) hours. All treatments had significant cardiovascular and respiratory alterations but they were within acceptable range in these clinically healthy female dogs. Conclusion: Dexamethasone added to epidural lignocaine significantly extends the postoperative analgesia after ovariohysterectomy in female dogs.

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To compare two different experimental models of osteoarthritis in rabbits: intra-articular collagenase injection and anterior cruciate ligament transection. METHODS: Ten adult rabbits were randomly divided in two groups: COLL (collagenase group) and ACLT (anterior cruciate ligament transection). The COLL group was treated with 0.5 ml collagenase solution (2mg collagenase/0.5 ml sterile PBS), and the ACTL group was subjected to anterior cruciate ligament. After six and twelve weeks, respectively, the animals in the COLL and ACTL groups were euthanized. The gross appearance and histological examinations conducted in the cartilage articular surface was blindly scored according to the criteria developed by Yoshimi et al. (1994) and Mankin et al. (1971), respectively. RESULTS: The gross morphologic observation, macroscopic score and histological examinations have demonstrated that the ACTL group presented the highest scores, and lesions more severe than those in the COLL group. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods, anterior cruciate ligament transection and collagenase, applied to the stifle joint of the rabbits have effectively induced degenerative changes in the cartilage tissue, through statistically significant analysis (p≤0.05). The ACTL method has presented more severe lesions.

OBJETIVO: Comparar a cola de fibrina (Tissucol®) e o plasma rico em plaquetas em enxertos cutâneos de espessura completa em malha em cães. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 18 cães, distribuídos em dois grupos, cola de fibrina (CF) e plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP). Em todos os animais foi realizado um enxerto cutâneo de 3x3 cm, em malha de espessura completa. No membro esquerdo foi colocado o biomaterial entre o enxerto e o leito receptor, cada qual em seu grupo, o membro direito serviu como grupo controle. Todos os animais foram avaliados clinicamente a cada 48 horas até o décimo quarto dia, através das variáveis: exsudação, coloração, edema e aspecto cosmético; histologicamente em três animais, no terceiro, sétimo e décimo quarto dia de pós-operatório através das variáveis: fibroblastos, colágeno, tecido de granulação, integração-aderência microscópica e inflamação aguda. RESULTADOS: Avaliações clínicas demonstraram que o grupo CF apresentou melhor escores em todas variáveis quando comparado com o grupo PRP. Nas avaliações histológicas o grupo PRP apresentou maior presença de fibroblastos ao sétimo e décimo quarto dia. CONCLUSÃO: A cola de fibrina foi clinicamente superior ao grupo plasma rico em plaquetas quando usados em enxertos cutâneos de espessura completa em cães.

PURPOSE: Compare fibrin glue (Tissucol®) and platelet-rich plasma in full-thickness mesh skin grafts in dogs. METHODS: Eighteen dogs were used, divided into two groups: fibrin glue (FG) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In all the animals, a full-thickness 3x3 cm mesh skin graft was implanted. In the left limb, the biomaterial was place between the graft and the receptor bed, according to the group, while the right limb served as the control group. All the animals were evaluated clinically every 48 hours until the 14th day, using the variables of exudation, coloration, edema and cosmetic appearance. Three animals were evaluated histologically, on the third, seventh and tenth postoperative days, using the variables of fibroblasts, collagen, granulation tissue, microscopic integration-adherence and acute inflammation. RESULTS: Clinical evaluations showed that the group CF showed better scores for all variables compared to PRP group. On the histological evaluations PRP group had a higher presence of fibroblasts in the seventh and fourteenth days. CONCLUSION: The fibrin glue group was clinically superior to the platelet-rich group when used on full-thickness skin grafts in dogs.

OBJETIVO: Estudar a superfície de implantes osseointegráveis utilizando discos de titânio irradiados com feixe de laser. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi irradiada com feixes de laser de alta intensidade (Nd-YAG), posteriormente depositado hidróxiapatita e submetido a tratamento térmico. Foi analisada sob MEV (Microscópio Eletrônico de Varredura) e realizada análise morfológica qualitativa com microfotografias em vários aumentos. RESULTADOS: A superfície irradiada com laser apresentou deformidade superficial e característica isomórfica; a aplicação de hidroxiapatita pelo método de biomimético aumentou quantitativamente a área da superfície de titânio. CONCLUSÃO: A deposição de hidroxiapatita apresentou melhor característica isomórfica e aumento quantitativo da área superficial estudada, a amostra demonstrou características não encontradas nos implantes disposto no mercado.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse the surface of titanium implants using disc irradiated with lasers. METHODS: Titanium discs were irradiated with laser high insensitive (Nd-YAG), deposited durapatite and used thermal treatment. Sample received qualitative morphological analyse trough micrographics with many size in SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). RESULTS: Surface laser irradiation shows roughness and isomorphic characteristic. The durapatite amplified the titanium surface area by method biomimetic. CONCLUSION: The surface treatment presented more deposition of durapatite, roughness on the surface, better isomorphic characteristic and increase quantitative in titanium surface area, samples shows rugous, roughness and homogeneity there is not found in the implants available at the market.

OBJETIVO: Estudo morfológico do implante da prótese de polímero de mamona em articulações de cães, como técnica alternativa ao enxerto ósseo autógeno na correção cirúrgica da luxação medial de patela. MÉTODOS: Doze cães adultos, de ambos os sexos, foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos de 6 animais. No grupo I (poliuretano) foi feito o aprofundamento da tróclea femoral direita com prótese de polímero de mamona, que foi comparado com o grupo II (controle) sendo feita a trocleoplastia por ressecção em cunha da tróclea femoral esquerda. Os animais foram sacrificados após 30 e 90 dias e as peças anatômicas foram avaliadas macro e microscopicamente. O teste do quiquadrado e o teste não-paramétrico de Wilcoxon foram utilizados para a análise estatística dos resultados. Fixou-se em 5%, o nível de rejeição da hipótese de nulidade. RESULTADOS: Não foi observada interação óssea (osteointegração) no grupo polímero de mamona. Houve reabsorção do enxerto ao longo do período experimental e ausência de células inflamatórias nos períodos analisados. CONCLUSÃO: O polímero de mamona auxiliou no processo cicatricial, foi biocompatível sem presença de inflamação, podendo ser usado em articulações como uma alternativa para o preenchimento ósseo.

PURPOSE: Comparative morphologic study of utilization of castor oil polymer in dogs joints, as an alternative technique to autogenous graft, in surgical correction of medial patella luxation. METHODS:Twelve adult dogs, of both sexes, were randomly allocated to two different groups of six animals each. Group I (biopolymer) consisted of the deepening of the right femoral troclea, with the implantation of the biopolymer prothesis, and compared to group II (control) which consisted of the conventional trocleoplastia technique with wedged cut of the left femoral troclea. The dogs were sacrified after 30 or 90 days and the anathomic peaces were analyzed macro and microscopically. Qui square and Wilcoxon tests were used for the statistic analyses of the results, considering probability of 5%. RESULTS: It was not observed bony integration on the castor oil polymer group. There was resorption of the graft along experimental period and absence of inflammatory cells in the studied periods. CONCLUSION: Castor oil polymer assisted cicatrisation process, was biocompatible without inflammation, and it can be used in joints as an alternative for bony filling.