title: Evaluation of lameness associated with arthroscopy and arthrotomy of the normal canine cubital joint.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate gait, range of motion (ROM), and lameness in normal dogs after arthroscopy or arthrotomy of the cubital joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen mature, healthy dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Seven underwent arthrotomy and 7 underwent arthroscopy of the left cubital joint. Dogs were evaluated using kinetic gait assessment, subjective evaluation scores, and cubital joint ROM. Evaluations were performed before and on days 2, 4, 7, 15, 22, and 29 after surgery. Radiographs made before and after the surgical procedures were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in peak vertical force and vertical impulse force were not observed between surgery groups (P =.88 and.49, respectively). Joint ROM was not significantly different between groups (P =.09 for flexion and.91 for extension). For all dogs, joint ROM and radiographic evaluations remained normal throughout the study period. Significant differences in subjective lameness scores, weight bearing, or pain were not observed between groups (P >/ or =.19 for all variables).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study population, significant differences between dogs undergoing arthroscopy or arthrotomy of the cubital joint with respect to postoperative pain, weight bearing, joint ROM, or temporal improvement of ground reaction forces were not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that postoperative morbidity should not be a factor when making a decision to perform either arthroscopy or arthrotomy for exploration of the medial compartment of the canine cubital joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Phase II, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Loretta J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bubenik
authors.forename: Spencer A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Rick D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Richard V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Broadstone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000662:veterinary; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012016:Reference Values