Summary
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a Veress needle as a fluid egress
system for stifle arthroscopy in toy dog breeds.
Methods: Cadaveric canine stifle joints (n = 32) were prepared to induce an artificial intra-articular
haemorrhagic effect, followed by stifle arthroscopy. The stifles were randomly assigned
to one of three groups, and a fluid egress portal was established using a Veress needle
(VN), a standard egress cannula (SE), or an intravenous catheter stylet (CS). Time
to establish the egress portal, arthroscopic visibility, and egress portal performance
were evaluated during the arthroscopy. After the arthroscopic examinations, iatrogenic
cartilage lesions were identified and analysed using the percentage area of cartilage
damage (%ACD).
Results: The overall arthroscopic visibility and egress portal performance were not significantly
different among the groups. The egress portal establishment was faster for the VN
(33 sec) and the CS (34 sec) groups than for the SE (43 sec) group (p = 0.001). On
gross joint examination, no iatrogenic laceration was found in the VN group, whereas
four out of 10 of the SE and two out of 10 of the CS specimens had linear cartilage
excoriation on the stifle joints. The %ACD score of the VN group was lower than those
of the SE group (p = 0.009) and the CS group (p = 0.001).
Clinical significance: The Veress needle method used in this study was useful to establish a fluid egress
system and limit iatrogenic cartilage excoriations. This technique could become the
method of choice for stifle arthroscopy, especially in smaller dogs.
Keywords
Stifle - arthroscopy - egress portal - dog - Veress needle