Effect of therapeuic ultrasound in acute traumatic arthritis in rabbits

Abstract

Ultrasound therapy on acute traumatic arthritis was studied in 12 adult New Zealand White rabbits of either sex divided equally into 2 groups (A,B). Acute aseptic arthritis was induced in left: stifle joint with 0.2 ml of turpentine oil. The group A served as control, whereas, in the group B pulsed ultrasound therapy was applied @ I watt/cm2 fbr 5 min, and both groups were evaluated clinically and haematobiochemically. Histopathological examination was performed on day 15 post-arthritis. The inflammatory swelling, lameness, pain and rectal temperature were rose signiiicantly ft)r the first 3 days in both groups. Resolution of inflammatory swelling, pain and weight bearing was earlier in the treatment group. The degree of severity of lameness persisted for a longer time ill control group. Synovial TLC increased progressively in the group A till day IS. In the group B, the synovial TLC decreased as the treatmcnt started. Blood TLC and DLC did not show any significant variation in both the groups. Synovial total proteins increased signiiicantly on day 3 after induction of arthritis in all the animals and remained so in all intervals in control group, whereas, it was normal in the treatment group on day] 5 post-arthritis. Synovial alkaline phosphatase activity increased significantly at various intervals in both groups. Microscopically, complete sloughing ofthe intima layer of the joint capsule and sevcr~ intlammatory reaction was found in the untreated animals. In ultrasound trcated animals, the joint capsule was almost normal and there was no calcium deposition. Degeneration of the articular cartilage was observed in untreated animals while such changes were not seen in the treated animals.