Laserterapia de baixa potência no tratamento da ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial de gatos (Felis catus)

Abstract

The cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) rupture is one of the most frequent orthopedic affection in small animals and humans. Several treatments techniques have been described, been the minimally invasive video assisted arthroscopical technique extensively utilized in humans and dogs, but still few described in cats. Pos operatory rehabilitation methods are generally associated to the surgical treatment and the low level lasertherapy is a physiotherapeutic tool that may allow early return of function of injured members. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of low level lasertherapy in the treatment of the CrCL rupture in cats. 16 adult cats were submitted to the video assisted arthroscopic surgery of experimental rupture of the CrCL and immediate treatment. The animals were divided in two groups. Only one group was treated with low level lasertherapy. An GaAs laser with 904 nm was used in four points of the right stifle joint at 4 J/cm² every 48 hours during 21 days. The animals were evaluated before surgery and at days 15, 30, 45 and 60 after surgery for the degree of lameness, circumferential measurement of members and synovial fluid, radiographic, goniometric and kinematical analysis. Is was possible to perform the video assisted arthroscopic procedure in the stifle joint of cats in a way similar in dogs. The treated animals showed begining of return of function at 30 days pos op, with different results beetween groups at 45 and 60 days pos op. In both groups the degenerative articular process was verified, but in the low level lasertherapy treated group more discrete alterations were verified. The low level lasertherapy has benefic effect on cat´s stifle joints in the CrCL rupture treatment.