Coral Springs Animal Hospital's Pawfessional Spring 2017 | Page 18

By: Elizabeth Rawson, DVM, MS, DACVS, CCRT - Coral Springs Animal Hospital Surgeon
of stem cells to the area, cellular
proliferation, and improved bone
strength. ESWT also decreases pain
in the area of injury perhaps due to
increased serotonin activity.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
(ESWT) uses high energy sound waves
to enhance the body’s own healing
capacity. When the energy is released
in the body as it reaches bone or
tendon, it causes cavitation and
microstress in the surrounding tissues
resulting
in
modulation
of
inflammatory,
angiogenic,
and
osteogenic proteins.
In chronic
injuries, ESWT causes the release of
acute cytokines that stimulate
healing. The result of all of this is
increased blood supply to the area,
reduction in local inflammation,
improved tendon, ligament, and
muscle fiber alignment, recruitment
We are using shock wave therapy for
tendon and ligament injuries, chronic
wounds, delayed and non-union
fractures, lumbosacral disease, and
osteoarthritis. We have also been
using it at the time of surgery in knee
stabilization surgeries such as TPLO
and TTA procedures. We use it for
the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and
faster bone healing properties that it
has. Many studies have shown that
shock
wave
delivers
the
aforementioned benefits in people
and in veterinary patients, but there is
no study looking at the specific
benefits in the knee surgery patients.
At Coral Springs Animal Hospital we
are currently conducting a double-
blinded randomized study looking at
the effects of a single shock wave
therapy treatment at the time of TPLO
or TTA surgery. Sedation is required
during the treatment due discomfort
while the shock waves are being