• Lara M Rasmussen, Alan J Lipowitz, and Lynelle F Graham.
• College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA. lrasmussen@aevs.com
• Vet Anaesth Analg. 2006 Jan 1;33(1):49-61.

ObjectiveTo determine whether bupivacaine peripheral nerve block of the saphenous, tibial and common peroneal nerves proximal to the femoro-tibial joint reduces peri-operative pain following extracapsular surgical stabilization of cranial cruciate ligament rupture in the nonchondrodystrophoid dog.AnimalsForty-one dogs with naturally acquired femoro-tibial joint instability. Study design Randomized, controlled, clinical trial.MethodsDogs diagnosed with suspected cranial cruciate ligament injury based on physical and radiographic evidence were randomly assigned to treatment (bupivacaine) or control (saline) nerve blocks before femoro-tibial joint surgery. Pain scores, skin sensation, pain threshold to incisional pressure, time to first systemic 'rescue' opioid analgesic and total analgesic dose were evaluated for 24 hours. p < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsTreatment dogs had a significantly longer period of cutaneous desensitization than control dogs. There were no significant differences between treatment and control groups for pain score, pain threshold to incisional pressure, or time to first-rescue analgesic. The treatment group received significantly more supplemental analgesics than the control group.ConclusionsThese peripheral nerve blocks were easy to perform and resulted in significant desensitization of the associated nerve autonomous zones, but did not improve post-operative analgesia.Clinical RelevanceClinical benefit was not detected when using this technique for peri-operative pain management following extracapsular cranial cruciate ligament surgical stabilization.

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