Acupuncture in thoracolumbar disk disease in dogs

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Hi All,

 

See these - nice work, especially paper #1!

 

Ayne Murata Hayashi, DVM, MSc; Julia Maria Matera, DVM, PhD; Ana

Carolina Brandao de Campos Fonseca Pinto DVM, PhD. Evaluation of

electroacupuncture treatment for thoracolumbar intervertebral disk

disease

in dogs. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2007;231 :913-918). ABSTRACT:

Objective-To evaluate use of electroacupuncture combined with

standard

Western medical treatment versus Western medical treatment alone for

treatment of thoracolumbar intervertebral disk disease in dogs.

Design-

Prospective controlled study:Animals-50 dogs with signs of

thoracolumbar

intervertebral disk disease. Procedures-Dogs were randomly allocated

to 1

of 2 treatment groups and classified as having grade 1 to 5

neurologic

dysfunction. Dogs in group 1 received electroacupuncture stimulation

combined with standard Western Medical treatment; those in group 2

received only standard Western medical treatment. A numeric score for

 

neurologic function was evaluated at 4 time points to evaluate

effects of

treatments. Results-Time (mean ¡ÀSO) to recover ambulation in dogs

with

grade 3 and 4 dysfunction in group 1 (10.10 ¡À 6.49 days) was

significantly

lower than in group 2 (20.83 ¡À 11.99days). Success (able to walk

without

assistance) rate for dogs with grade 3 and 4 dysfunction in group 1

(10/10dogs) was significantly higher than that of similarly affected

dogs in

group 2 (6/9 dogs). Dogs without deep pain perception (grade 5

dysfunction) had a success (recovery of pain sensation) rate of 3 of

6 and 1

of 8 in groups 1 and 2, respectively, but the difference was not

significant.

Overall success rate (all dysfunction grades) for group 1 (23/26;

885%) was

significantly higher than for group 2 (14/24; 58.3%). Conclusions and

 

Clinical Relevance- Electroacupuncture combined with standard Western

 

medical treatment was effective and resulted in shorter time to

recover

ambulation (ability to walk) and deep pain perception than did use of

 

Western treatment alone in dogs with signs of thoracolumbar

intervertebral

disk disease.

 

STILL J Acupuncture treatment of grade III and IV canine

thoracolumbar

disc disease (hind limb paralysis). American Journal of Acupuncture

1998,

vol. 26, no2-3, pp. 179-187. Dept of Companion Animal Medicine and

Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Medical University of

Southern

Africa, Medunsa, South Africa. Abstract: Canine thoracolumbar disc

disease (TLDD). grade III and IV, is characterized by hind limb

paraplegia

and the associated dysfunction of urination and defecation due to the

spinal

compression/damage following the dorsal protrusion or extrusion of

the

intervertebral disc in the thoracolumbar region. The acute stage of

the

condition was diagnosed in 25 dogs and classified as grade III (pain

sensitivity of the hind limb maintained) and IV (pain sensitivity

absent). Ten

to 16 steel acupuncture needles were inserted into the selected

acupoints

situated on the back, hind limbs and abdomen of the dogs.

Electrostimulation of the needles was used routinely; ear acupuncture

was

added in 48% of cases. The treatments were repeated according to the

clinical progress. Any additional anti-inflammato ry and/or analgesic

 

treatment was excluded. 8 / 10 (80%) dogs classified as grade III,

and 7 /

15 (47%) dogs of grade IV attained at least a degree of voluntary

motor

control and improvement of the pre viously disturbed control of

micturition

and defecation at the end of the treatment.

 

Best regards,