title: Intra-articular injections of autologous platelet concentrates in dogs with surgical reparation of cranial cruciate ligament rupture: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate by clinical, radiographic, and force plate gait analyses the effect of post-surgical intra-articular injections of autologous platelet concentrates (PC) in a small group of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ten dogs used in this study were initially presented with CCL rupture and underwent ligament replacement surgery by fascia lata autograft guided by arthroscopy. Six dogs received three intra-articular injections of PC (PC group); one dose was injected immediately after surgery, and two additional doses were injected at two-week intervals. The remaining four dogs received only nutraceuticals (control group). All dogs were evaluated by clinical examination, serial radiography, and force plate gait analyses at monthly intervals up to 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical follow-up of the PC-treated group indicated a better outcome than the control group. Radiographic evaluation was not conclusive. Values of peak vertical reaction force and vertical impulse of the affected limbs were only significantly larger on the 90th postoperative day in the PC group compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that autologous PC might improve functional outcome after intra-articular cranial cruciate ligament repair. The effect of PC when using other repair procedures warrants additional studies.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clinica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil. raul.silva@ucaldas.edu.co
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: C M F
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rezende
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001792:Blood Platelets; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome