Abstract
Objective: To assess and compare the magnitude of lameness and level of pain following muscle-sparing lateral thoracotomy (MSLT) and standard lateral thoracotomy (SLT) in dogs.
Study Design: Randomized, blinded prospective clinical study.Animals: 28 client-owned dogs.
Methods:The latissimus dorsi muscle was retracted in the MSLT group and was transected in the SLT group. Gait was analyzed with a force plate and the peak vertical force symmetry index (SI) was calculated within 24 hours before surgery, three days post-operatively, and 8-12 weeks post-operatively. SI and pain scores, measured by the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale – Short Form, were assessed as primary outcome measures.
Results: The SI three days post-operatively was lower than the pre-operative value in all dogs, consistent with lameness of the ipsilateral thoracic limb (P <0.001). The absolute differences in pre-operative and three days post-operative symmetry indices showed this change to be 3.1 times greater after SLT compared to MSLT (P = 0.009). Pain scores one day after surgery were lower after MSLT (1.0) compared to SLT (2.5, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Lateral thoracotomies caused post-operative pain and ipsilateral forelimb lameness, both reduced by sparing the latissimus dorsi. Clinical Significance: Sparing the latissimus dorsi should be considered to decrease immediate post-operative morbidity in dogs undergoing lateral thoracotomy.
Study Design: Randomized, blinded prospective clinical study.Animals: 28 client-owned dogs.
Methods:The latissimus dorsi muscle was retracted in the MSLT group and was transected in the SLT group. Gait was analyzed with a force plate and the peak vertical force symmetry index (SI) was calculated within 24 hours before surgery, three days post-operatively, and 8-12 weeks post-operatively. SI and pain scores, measured by the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale – Short Form, were assessed as primary outcome measures.
Results: The SI three days post-operatively was lower than the pre-operative value in all dogs, consistent with lameness of the ipsilateral thoracic limb (P <0.001). The absolute differences in pre-operative and three days post-operative symmetry indices showed this change to be 3.1 times greater after SLT compared to MSLT (P = 0.009). Pain scores one day after surgery were lower after MSLT (1.0) compared to SLT (2.5, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Lateral thoracotomies caused post-operative pain and ipsilateral forelimb lameness, both reduced by sparing the latissimus dorsi. Clinical Significance: Sparing the latissimus dorsi should be considered to decrease immediate post-operative morbidity in dogs undergoing lateral thoracotomy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1227-1236 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Veterinary Surgery |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 15 Feb 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank Giorgia Brambilla BVSc MRCVS for assistance in the collection of data.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.