Canine, Achilles Tendon Tear, "Gidget"
1:55
Case courtesy of
Dr. Heather Owen, Animal Acupuncture, Tulsa, OK
Signalment
Canine, four yo, FS, Shiba Inu, "Gidget"
History
Gidget was playing ball when she became acutely lame in a pelvic limb.
Diagnostics and Exam Findings
The patient presented with a grade 2/6 right hindlimb lameness. On palpation, there was pain and swelling of the right Achilles tendon (pain score 3/9). Digital thermography showed increased heat over this region and a musculoskeletal ultrasound confirmed a grade 2 tear of the Achilles tendon.
PRP Treatment
2 mls of PRP were injected into the right Achilles tendon with musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance.
Frequency of Treatment
A single injection of PRP was administered.
Laser Treatment
Laser therapy of the R tarsus was performed immediately post-injection (67.5J at 0.5W). Beginning 24 hours later and continuing approximately once weekly for 2.5 months, laser therapy of the R tarsus continued (255J at 15W).
Stance Analysis
Stance analysis reflected improved weight-gearing of the right hindlimb. Initially, the right hindlimb supported 12% (normal 20%) of total body weight and 11 weeks post-PRP had improved to 21%. The primary limb of compensation (right forelimb) showed improvement as well, initially bearing 39% (normal 30%) of total body weight and decreasing to 28%.
Other Treatments
Gabapentin (50-100mg PRN) and use of a tarsal support were prescribed post-injection. The patient also attended rehab sessions, including underwater treadmill approximately once weekly over 2.5 months.
Comments
11 weeks after treatment, no lameness, pain, or swelling was present and the patient had normal weight distribution percentages on stance analysis. The owners were very happy with the results.