Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the pain-relieving effect of gold bead implantation in dogs with hip dysplasia
78 dogs with painful arthrosis due to hip dysplasia – a congenital developmental dislocation in the hip joint area after birth – were studied to evaluate gold bead implantation as a pain-relieving treatment. 36 dogs were randomly assigned to the gold implantation group and 42 to the placebo group. They were treated equally regarding anaesthesia and hair clipping. “The gold implantation group had small pieces of 24-carat gold inserted through needles at five different acupuncture points and the placebo group had the skin penetrated at five non-acupuncture points so as to avoid any possible effect of stimulating the acupuncture points.”
After 14 days and after 3 and 6 months the owners assessed the overall effect using a questionnaire, and the veterinarian examined each dog and evaluated its degree of lameness from a video recording. “There were significantly greater improvements in mobility and greater reductions in the signs of pain in the dogs treated with gold implantation than in the placebo group. The veterinarian’s and the owners’ assessments corresponded well.”
Proceed to study ... |
