Effect of sedation or general anesthesia on elbow goniometry and thoracic limb circumference measurements in dogs with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis

Objective To evaluate the effect of sedation or general anesthesia (GA) on elbow goniometry and thoracic limb circumference (TLC) measurements in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis (OA). Study design Prospective study. Animals Twenty‐four client‐owned dogs with radiographically confirmed elbow OA. Methods Elbow goniometry and TLC measurements were made before and after either sedation or GA by using a hand‐held goniometer and spring tension measuring tape, respectively. Observers were not allowed to review their pre‐sedation or pre‐GA measurements at the time of obtaining measurements on dogs under sedation or GA. Mixed analysis of variance models were used to compare elbow goniometry and TLC measurements before and after sedation or GA. Results Eleven and thirteen dogs were included in the sedation and GA groups, respectively. Mean elbow flexion decreased by 5° and 3° and mean elbow extension increased by 6° and 2° under sedation and GA, respectively. Total range of motion increased by 11° under sedation and by 5° under GA. Each of these changes was statistically significant (P .05). Conclusion Sedation or GA led to slight and similar increase in elbow flexion and extension but did not influence TLC measurements in dogs with elbow OA. Clinical significance Sedation or GA can cause slight alterations to goniometric measurements in canine elbows with OA. The protocols used in this study for sedation and GA seem interchangeably acceptable for goniometry and TLC measurements in dogs with elbow OA.