Publications
Quantitative evaluation of the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the dog patellar tendon in response to neuromuscular blockade at different stifle angles
Authors: Dito Anggoro 1, 2, Melpa Susanti Purba 1, Norihiro Nishida 3, Harumichi Itoh 4, Kazuhito Itamoto 4, Yuki Nemoto 5, Munekazu Nakaichi 5, Hiroshi Sunahara 6, Kenji Tani 6
Affiliations:
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Laboratory of Small Animal Clinical Science, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Laboratory of Veterinary Radiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
Journal: PLOS ONE - January 2024, Volume 19, Issue 1, Article no. e0292453 (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292453)
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Field & Applications:
- Medical
- Animal studies
- Treatment evaluation
- Neuromuscular control
- Methodology
- Validity
The patellar tendon (PT) is crucial for maintaining stability and facilitating movement in the stifle joint. Elastography has been recognized as a prominent method for evaluating PT properties in humans and dogs. The utilization of oscillation methods in canine studies remains limited despite their extensive documentation in human studies. Our study represents the first effort to quantitatively assess and compare the effects of muscle relaxant on the biomechanical and viscoelastic characteristics of the PT at varying stifle angles in living dogs.
Five healthy female beagles were used in this study. Biomechanical (tone, stiffness, and decrement) and viscoelastic (relaxation time and creep) properties of the PT were measured using MyotonPRO (Myoton Ltd, Estonia) prior to and following administration of rocuronium (0.5 mg/kg/body weight) at normal, extended, and flexed positions. Rocuronium was selected for its safety, controllability, and widespread clinical use in veterinary anesthesia.
Two-way analysis of variance showed that tone, stiffness, and decrement were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the control group than in the muscle relaxation group. At the same time, relaxation time and creep were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the control group than in the muscle relaxation group.
The findings indicate that stifle angle position and muscle rexalant administration fundamentally alter the biomechanical loading conditions of the PT, leading to changes in its viscoelastic properties. Therefore, this novel quantitative data could benefit clinical settings that necessitate accurate and objective methods for risk identification and monitoring PT biomechanics in dogs.
Keywords: tendons, relaxation time, viscoelasticity, dogs, biomechanics, stiffness, skeletal joints, elasticity
The study demonstrates that muscle relaxants and the stifle joint angle may alter the biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the PT. Analysis of the dog’s PT tone, stiffness, decrement, relaxation time, and creep reveal distinct responses to joint angles, particularly heightened tone and stiffness with reduced elasticity during flexion. Thus, it enhances our comprehension of tissue biomechanics by emphasizing interconnected mechanical parameters, particularly in veterinary medicine.