DEVICE MAY HELP KEEP DOG KNEES LIMBER

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DEVICE MAY HELP KEEP DOG KNEES LIMBER
12 November 2003 - University of Wisconsin-Madison

As our canine companions get older, a common joint problem could leave many of them stiff in the knee. Fortunately, a new device developed by researchers at UW-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine may help veterinarians catch the problem early, before it results in permanent arthritis.

As dogs age, particularly larger breeds, like golden or Labrador retrievers - the cranial cruciate ligament in the knee may weaken and stretch. After it reaches a certain point, the ligament ruptures.

"The minute this happens, arthritis sets in," leaving the dog stiff and often in pain, says Mandi Lopez, a veterinary surgeon, SVM researcher and co-inventor of the device. Surgeries to repair a ruptured ligament, which can never fully be restored, are the most common procedures performed on dogs today, adds Lopez.

The ideal course of action is to detect weakened ligaments before they rupture. Early detection, says Lopez, could lead to preemptive surgeries that restore the function of the ligament before it's destroyed and unable to be completely repaired.

But current detection methods cannot discern partial disruptions. Right now, veterinarians rely on physical exams to reveal knee-related problems. In the case of the cruciate ligament, just a few millimeters of movement in a leg bone can signal a partial disruption.

"It is very difficult to detect such minute motion using our hands," says Lopez.

Needing a tool that could objectively assess knee stability after cruciate ligament repair surgery, Lopez, along with veterinary surgeon Mark Markel and instrument specialist William Hagquist, developed a device that can detect motion within the joint down to just one-tenth of a millimeter.

"Since we're one of the leading cruciate research groups in the country," says Markel, "having something to quantify ligament disruption will make our research more robust."

The new device consists of a platform with two moving pieces. One piece is strapped to the dog's leg just above the knee and the other is strapped just below it. As a small force is applied to the lower piece, pushing it backward or forward, X-rays of the joint are taken. The images, along with one taken when no force is applied, are superimposed to show the amount of movement in the joint. By looking at the measurements, veterinarians can distinguish between intact, partially disrupted and fully ruptured cruciate ligaments.

"I know how devastating a ruptured cruciate can be," says Lopez. "The device has tremendous potential to improve the quality of life of our pets by allowing us to diagnose problems early and intervene before arthritis develops." She adds, "If I could prevent a cranial cruciate rupture in my own dogs, I would."

The inventors are currently designing clinical trials using the instrument, which is patented by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, a non-profit agency that manages intellectual property for UW-Madison.

Because many species, including humans, can suffer from ruptured cruciate ligaments, the inventors say the device could be adapted for use on other animals or incorporated into other imaging technology. They note, however, that similar detection tools already exist for people.

http://www.wisc.edu

About: University of Wisconsin-Madison
In achievement and prestige, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has long been recognized as one of America’s great universities. A public, land-grant institution, UW-Madison offers a complete spectrum of liberal arts studies, professional programs and student activities. Many of its programs are hailed as world leaders in instruction, research and public service.

The university traces its roots to a clause in the Wisconsin Constitution, which decreed that the state should have a prominent public university. In 1848, Nelson Dewey, Wisconsin’s first governor, signed the act that formally created the university, and its first class, with 17 students, met in a Madison school building on February 5, 1849.

From those humble beginnings, the university has grown into a large, diverse community, with about 40,000 students enrolled each year. These students represent every state in the nation, as well as countries from around the globe, making for a truly international population.

UW-Madison is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Wisconsin System, a statewide network of 13 comprehensive universities, 13 freshman-sophomore transfer colleges and an extension service. One of two doctorate-granting universities in the system, UW-Madison’s specific mission is to provide "a learning environment in which faculty, staff and students can discover, examine critically, preserve and transmit the knowledge, wisdom and values that will help insure the survival of this and future generations and improve the quality of life for all."

The university achieves these ends through innovative programs of research, teaching and public service. Throughout its history, UW-Madison has sought to bring the power of learning into the daily lives of its students through innovations such as residential learning communities and service-learning opportunities. Students also participate freely in research, which has led to life-improving inventions from more fuel-efficient engines to cutting-edge genetic therapies.

Students, faculty and staff are motivated by a tradition known as the "Wisconsin Idea," described by UW President Charles Van Hise in 1904 as the compelling need to carry "the beneficent influence of the university ... to every home in the state." The Wisconsin Idea permeates the university’s work and helps forge close working relationships among university faculty and students and the state’s industries and government.

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