![]() ![]() Hip dysplasia was graded as mild, moderate or severe according to the guidelines of the Scientific Commission of the Nordic Kennel Union (NKU) and the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI). The dogs (n = 80) had a radiographic diagnosis of either unilateral or bilateral HD and no other causes of pain or hind limb lameness. The clinical outcome of the treatment has been published elsewhere. The aim of the present article was to describe such a technique and to record any undesired effects caused by HD gold bead implantation in dogs suffering from chronic degenerative joint diseases. We could not find any detailed descriptions of the GBI technique or any report on subsequent adverse effects in the scientific literature. However, a more recent double-blind trial with 80 dogs was able to show a significant reduction in pain and gait abnormality in the GBI group. Two double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trials failed to show any statistically significant difference between the GBI and the placebo groups for dogs with chronic hip dysplasia (HD). In addition, many anecdotal stories report favorable effects of GBI in both humans and animals with different chronic diseases, especially degenerative joint diseases (DJD). The patients have shown less discomfort, improvement of movement, and even complete recovery from lameness. Insufficiently documented reports from the USA and Europe claim to show extraordinarily good results for this procedure both in dogs and humans. Veterinarians have used gold bead implantations for many years. The gold implants are inserted through large gauge needles at acupuncture points, and left in the body. Traditional acupuncture uses needles inserted through the skin at certain acupuncture points and left in place for 20–30 minutes. Gold bead implantation (GBI) is a treatment used in acupuncture to relieve pain in chronic joint disease. Migration of gold beads was only observed in one dog. Of the 30 dogs that were radiographed at both inclusion and 24 months, 80% (24 dogs) showed a deterioration of the coxofemoral arthrosis, the other six had stable disease evaluated by radiography. The dogs in the gold implantation group were radiographed 18 months later. During implantation, a technical difficulty occurred as 82% of the dogs showed leakage of blood and/or synovia from the needles. Adverse effects, measured as pain or discomfort, were seen for a period of up to four weeks in 15 of the dogs in the gold implantation group, compared to six dogs in the placebo group. The implantation technique was simple to perform, using fluoroscopy and with the dogs under inhalation anesthesia for about 30 minutes. Eighty dogs were randomly allocated to treatment or placebo, with 38 in the gold implantation group and 42 in the placebo group, and followed intensely for six months. A prospective placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trial was performed. The aims of the present study were to describe the technique of implanting 24-karat gold beads around the hip joints of dogs with chronic hip dysplasia, and to record any side effects or complications of such treatment. ![]() Gold bead implantation has been used for years as an alternative method to improve function in chronic joint disease both in humans and dogs. ![]()
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