Evaluation of postoperative analgesia with perioperative electroacupuncture in clinical dog patients undergoing surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture (Tibial Tuberosity Advancement)

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing Tibial Tuberosity Advancement surgery. We hypothesise that acupuncture will reduce pain scores and the need for rescue analgesia compared to the control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 31 client-owned dogs were enroled in this prospective, blinded, randomised, controlled clinical study conducted in a small animal private practice. Dogs scheduled for TTA surgery were allocated to an electroacupuncture group (n = 15) or control group (n = 16). The intervention group received perioperative electroacupuncture, while the control group did not. Pain was assessed by an experienced observer at baseline and at eight postoperative timepoints using the short-form Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF). Owners assessed their dogs at two postoperative timepoints. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in baseline pain scores between groups. Postoperatively, pain scores were significantly higher during the first two hours compared to baseline. Electroacupuncture had no significant effect on pain scores at any timepoint. Owners assigned significantly higher pain scores than the expert observer and scored the electroacupuncture group as more painful than the control group at ten hours postoperatively. A significant association was identified between pain and sedation scores. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Electroacupuncture did not improve postoperative analgesia or reduce pain scores following TTA surgery. The strong association between sedation and pain scores suggests that sedation may confound pain assessment using validated pain scales. Higher owner-assigned pain scores highlight the importance of training and experience in accurate pain evaluation.