Summary

A randomized, blinded, prospective clinical trial wasperformed to determine the effects of intravenous (IV)administration of hyaluronan sodium (HA) on serumglycosaminoglycans (GAG) concentrations, synovialfluid (SF) hyaluronan concentrations and viscosity indogs treated for unilateral rupture of the cranial cruciateligament. Twenty-two dogs undergoing tibial plateauleveling osteotomy were used in this study. Synovialfluid from both stifles and serum were collectedprior to surgery and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks following surgery.Dogs received either 1.0 ml (10 mg) of sodiumhyaluronate (treatment group 1; n = 10) or equalvolume of 0.9% NaCl (treatment group 2; n = 12), IVimmediately, 2 and 4 weeks following surgery. Synovialfluid viscosity was evaluated using a magneticallydriven, acoustically tracked, translating-ball rheometer.Synovial fluid HA disaccharide content was measuredby fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis.Serum GAG concentrations were measured by alcianblue spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzedusing a Wilcoxon sign rank test (p<0.05). Mean ±SD viscosity (cP) was significantly higher (p=0.011)in SF obtained from the intact stifle (450 ± 604.1)than injured (54.8 ± 60.8) prior to surgery. Mean ±SD HA concentrations (ug/ml) were significantly higher(p=0.02) in synovial fluid obtained from the injuredstifles (281.4 ± 145.9) than intact stifles (141.6 ±132.5). No significant difference was noted within orbetween treatment groups in SF viscosity, HA concentrations,or serum GAG concentrations at any time followingsurgery. Stifles with cranial cruciate ligamentinsufficiency had significant alterations in SF viscosityand HA concentrations.