Conservative treatment of partial gastrocnemius muscle avulsions in dogs using therapeutic ultrasound

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: In this report two cases of partial gastrocnemius muscle avulsion treated with pulsed therapeutic ultrasound are described. METHODS: The outcome in these two dogs was evaluated using ultrasonographic imaging and the measurement of ground reaction forces with a force plate. RESULTS: Both dogs showed an amelioration of the clinical signs within one month after commencement of the ultrasound therapy. The follow-up time for these cases was one year and six months respectively. Both of the dogs were free of lameness and had returned to their normal amount of exercise. Palpation of the fabella associated with the muscle injury did not produce any signs of pain. Ultrasonographic imaging did not detect any signs of haemorrhage or oedema, although scarring of muscle fibres was present. The force-plate analyses revealed an improvement. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that therapeutic ultrasound could be a beneficial treatment modality for this kind of muscle injury.