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

Débora Gouveia; Ana Cardoso; Rita Pina; Bernardo Rosário; Carla Carvalho; Marina Moisés; Ana Oliveira; Inês Rijo; Inês Loureiro; Maria Balça; Alicia Moreira; Rui Alvites; Artur Varejão; Ana Colette; António Ferreira; Ângela Martins

doi:10.1055/s-0045-1811987

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

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

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

²Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Lusofona University (ULHT), Lisbon, Portugal

³Escola Superior de Proteção e Bem-estar Animal (ESPA), Instituto Politécnico da Lusofonia (IP-LUSO), Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Cardoso

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

²Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Lusofona University (ULHT), Lisbon, Portugal
Rita Pina

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

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

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

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

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

²Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Lusofona University (ULHT), Lisbon, Portugal
Inês Rijo

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

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

⁴Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

⁵Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal

⁶Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
Alicia Moreira

⁴Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

⁵Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal

⁶Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
Rui Alvites

⁴Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

⁵Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal

⁶Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
Artur Varejão

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

⁴Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

⁵Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto (ICETA), Porto, Portugal

⁶Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal
António Ferreira

⁶Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisbon, Portugal

⁸Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

⁹CIISA-Centro Interdisciplinar-Investigação em Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Univesidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Ângela Martins

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

Abstract

Full Text

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.