title: Efficacy of various analgesics on shoulder function and rotator cuff tendon-to-bone healing in a rat (Rattus norvegicus) model.
abstract: Although relief of postoperative pain is an imperative aspect of animal welfare, analgesics that do not interfere with the scientific goals of the study must be used. Here we compared the efficacy of different analgesic agents by using an established rat model of supraspinatus tendon healing and a novel gait-analysis system. We hypothesized that different analgesic agents would all provide pain relief in this model but would cause differences in tendon-to-bone healing and gait parameters. Buprenorphine, ibuprofen, tramadol-gabapentin, and acetaminophen were compared with a no-analgesia control group. Gait measures (stride length and vertical force) on the operative forelimb differed between the control group and both the buprenorphine (2 and 4 d postsurgery) and ibuprofen (2 d postsurgery) groups. Step length was different in the control group as compared with the tramadol-gabapentin (2 d after surgery), buprenorphine (2 and 4 d after surgery), and ibuprofen (2 d after surgery) groups. Regarding tendon-to-bone healing, the ibuprofen group showed less stiffness at the insertion site; no other differences in tendon-to-bone healing were detected. In summary, the analgesics evaluated were associated with differences in both animal gait and tendon-to-bone healing. This information will be useful for improving the management of postsurgical pain without adversely affecting tissue healing. Given its ability to improve gait without impeding healing, we recommend use of buprenorphine for postsurgical pain management in rats. In addition, our gait-analysis system can be used to evaluate new analgesics.
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory Animal Resources, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.affiliation: McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Jennica J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yannascoli
authors.affiliation: McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dunkman
authors.affiliation: McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. soslowsk@upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Louis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Soslowsky
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005552:Forelimb / Q000601:surgery; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics