Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2025; 38(05): A1-A12
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811987
Canine Podium Presentations

Applicability of the Interferential–Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Spinal Hyperesthesia in 72 French Bulldogs After Hemilaminectomy Surgery

Authors

  • Débora Gouveia

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal
    2   Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Lusofona University (ULHT), Lisbon, Portugal
    3   Escola Superior de Proteção e Bem-estar Animal (ESPA), Instituto Politécnico da Lusofonia (IP-LUSO), Lisbon, Portugal

  • Ana Cardoso

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal
    2   Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Lusofona University (ULHT), Lisbon, Portugal

  • Rita Pina

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

  • Bernardo Rosário

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

  • Carla Carvalho

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

  • Marina Moisés

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

  • Ana Oliveira

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal
    2   Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Lusofona University (ULHT), Lisbon, Portugal

  • Inês Rijo

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

  • Inês Loureiro

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

  • Maria Balça

    4   Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
    5   Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal
    6   Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal

  • Alicia Moreira

    4   Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
    5   Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal
    6   Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal

  • Rui Alvites

    4   Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
    5   Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal
    6   Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal

  • Artur Varejão

    7   Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal

  • Ana Colette

    4   Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
    5   Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal
    6   Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal

  • António Ferreira

    6   Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
    8   Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
    9   CIISA-Centro Interdisciplinar-Investigação em Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Univesidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

  • Ângela Martins

    1   Rehabilitation Center Department, Hospital Veterinário da arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal
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Background: Interferential transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (IF-TENS) is an adjunctive treatment to alleviate pain, muscle tension and spasm. This study aimed to observe the role of IF-TENS in managing spinal hyperesthesia during the first 2 weeks after surgery.

Materials and Methods: Seventy-two paraplegic French bulldogs with intervertebral disc extrusion (T3-L3) were admitted within 2 days after hemilaminectomy and randomized to: SG (n = 42) with dogs that had IF-TENS and CG (n = 30) with dogs that did not. Both had similar pharmacological treatments (AINEs plus gabapentin). IF-TENS was performed with two channels crossing each other in the pain region. For the SG, a biphasic, symmetric and continuous current BID was applied, whereas for the CG the device remained turned off. Before treatment, hyperesthesia was evaluated by two blinded observers.

Results: There was 8% interobserver disagreement regarding spinal hyperesthesia evaluation with significant differences in recovery, with the SG recovering faster, according to independent sample t-test (p < 0.001) and one-way ANOVA for repeated measures at each time point (p < 0.001). Hundred per cent of dogs had spinal hyperesthesia, and after only 24 hours of treatment, the SG decreased to 39 dogs and the CG remained at 30. On day 3, the SG received no AINEs and, by day 5, no gabapentin. In the CG on day 5, 77% (23/30) had spinal hyperesthesia, needing both medications for a longer period and eight dogs remained on pain medication for 15 days.

Conclusion: In this pilot study, IF-TENS was able to reduce spinal hyperesthesia, allowing an earlier decrease in pain medication.



Publication History

Article published online:
12 September 2025

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