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CC BY 4.0 · VCOT Open 2025; 08(01): e71-e77
DOI: 10.1055/a-2551-2862
Original Research

Use of Needle Arthroscopy in the Canine Coxofemoral Joint and Comparison with a Standard 1.9-mm Arthroscopy: An Ex Vivo Study

Joséphine Roels
1   Department of Small Animal Surgery, VetagroSup-Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy L'Etoile, France
,
Maxime Guillet
1   Department of Small Animal Surgery, VetagroSup-Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy L'Etoile, France
,
Tiare Delaune
2   Department of Surgery, Veterinary Clinic AniCura Armonia, Villefontaine, France
,
Thibaut Cachon
1   Department of Small Animal Surgery, VetagroSup-Campus vétérinaire de Lyon, Marcy L'Etoile, France
› Author Affiliations
Funding T.C. is a paid consultant for Arthrex: Payment or honoraria for lectures and presentations from Arthrex.
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Abstract

Objectives

To describe needle arthroscopy (NA) in the canine coxofemoral joint, evaluate its feasibility, and compare it with 1.9-mm standard arthroscopy (SA).

Study Design

Twelve pelves from six 5-month-old Beagle cadavers were collected. Preoperative computed tomography was performed to assess joint morphology. Each hindlimb underwent either NA using a Nanoscope (Arthrex Inc, Naples, Florida, United States) or 1.9-mm SA (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). Feasibility of the techniques was recorded. Three independent blinded observers (European College Of Veterinary Surgeons [ECVS] Diplomate, a board-eligible surgeon, and an ECVS resident) subjectively evaluated the quality of images between the NA and SA groups. Hips were disarticulated and an India ink assay was performed to assess for articular cartilage injury (ACI).

Results

The median weight was 9.6 kg (7.8–12.4). Scope introduction and identification of intra-articular structures were achieved in all hips from the NA (n = 6) and SA groups (n = 6). Image quality from NA was significantly superior to the SA group. ACI was documented in all NA cases and in all but one case in the SA group. All ACI lesions were graded as minor (<10% of the total cartilage area [TCA]). ACI represented 0.09% (0.06–0.21) and 0.11% (0.02–0.33) of the TCA for the NA and SA group, respectively, without significant difference.

Conclusion

Coxofemoral NA is feasible in dogs and offers good quality of visualization, with comparable ACI to 1.9-mm arthroscopy. These preliminary results on healthy and juvenile hips are the first steps toward future clinical studies.

Keywords

hip joint - needle arthroscopy - dogs - ex vivo

Authors' Contribution

J.R., M.G., and T.C. contributed to the conception, study design, acquisition of data, data analysis, and interpretation. T.D. contributed to the conception, data interpretation, and English editing. All authors drafted, revised, and approved the submitted manuscript and are publicly responsible for the relevant content.




Publication History

Received: 24 April 2024

Accepted: 18 December 2024

Article published online:
01 April 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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