title: Kinetic, kinematic, magnetic resonance and owner evaluation of dogs before and after the amputation of a hind limb.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The amputation of a limb is a surgical procedure that is regularly performed in small animal practice. In spite of several clinical reports indicating high owner satisfaction after limb amputation in dogs, an amputation is still very critically seen by the owners, and even by some veterinarians, due to the lack of accurate information about the recovery of amputee patients. Thus, the objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate, both objectively and subjectively, the recovery outcome of dogs undergoing a hind limb amputation. Twelve patients in which a hind limb amputation was scheduled were studied. Kinetic and kinematic gait analyses were performed before the amputation, and 10, 30, 90 and 120 days after surgery. Magnetic resonance (MR) examination of the contralateral stifle joint was performed before and 120 days after amputation. The subjective impressions of the owners were gathered at the same examination times of the gait analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kinetic data showed a redistribution of the load to all remaining limbs after the amputation; ten days after the procedure patients had already established their new locomotory pattern. Kinematic data showed significant differences between sessions in the mean angle progression curves of almost all analyzed joints; however, the ranges of motion were very similar before and after the amputation, and remained constant in the subsequent sessions after the amputation. No changes in the signal intensity of the soft tissues evaluated, and no evidence of cartilage damage or osteoarthritis was seen on the MR examination of the contralateral stifle. Owners evaluated the results of the amputation very positively, both during and at the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs had a quick adaptation after a hind limb amputation, and the adaptation process began before the amputation was performed. This happened without evidence of morphologic changes in the contralateral stifle joint, and with a very positive evaluation from the owner.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. vgalindoz@unal.edu.co.|Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Colombia, Carrera 30 # 45-03 (Ciudad Universitaria), Bogotá, Colombia. vgalindoz@unal.edu.co.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galindo-Zamora
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. verena.von.babo@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: von Babo
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. dr.nina.eberle@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eberle
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. danielabetz@me.com.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Betz
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. ingo.nolte@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559, Hannover, Germany. wefstaedt@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wefstaedt
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006614:Hindlimb; D007700:Kinetics; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report
references.citation: Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Jul;67(7):926-32
references.pmid: 17962236
references.citation: J Small Anim Pract. 2011 Feb;52(2):86-91
references.pmid: 21265847
references.citation: Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2011;24(5):326-32
references.pmid: 21822529
references.citation: Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2012;25(1):11-21
references.pmid: 22105153
references.citation: Vet Rec. 2000 Feb 5;146(6):155-9
references.pmid: 10706309
references.citation: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003 Jun 1;222(11):1552-8
references.pmid: 12784961
references.citation: Vet Med Small Anim Clin. 1979 Mar;74(3):332, 334
references.pmid: 255302
references.citation: Am J Vet Res. 1982 Mar;43(3):538-40
references.pmid: 7073072
references.citation: Am J Vet Res. 1993 Sep;54(9):1523-6
references.pmid: 8239144
references.citation: Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 1998 Mar-Apr;39(2):87-97
references.pmid: 9548134
references.citation: Vet Rec. 1999 Jan 30;144(5):115-8
references.pmid: 10070700
references.citation: Am J Vet Res. 1996 Mar;57(3):381-8
references.pmid: 8669773
references.citation: Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2007 Jul-Aug;48(4):312-7
references.pmid: 17691628
references.citation: J Exp Biol. 2008 Jan;211(Pt 1):138-49
references.pmid: 18083742
references.citation: Vet Surg. 2008 Feb;37(2):166-77
references.pmid: 18251811
references.citation: Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2008 Sep-Oct;49(5):425-31
references.pmid: 18833948
references.citation: Vasa. 2009 Feb;38 Suppl 74:72-4
references.pmid: 19259934