Development of a Cadaveric Model for Arthrocentesis.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anatomy
• Surgical Education
• Diagnostic Procedures

Background:

• Clinical arthrocentesis practice is limited due to animal safety concerns.
• Developing effective cadaver models is crucial for surgical training.
• Optimizing fluid yield from cadaver joints enhances learning outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel cadaveric model for teaching arthrocentesis.
• To compare the efficacy of mineral oil (MO) and hypertonic saline (HS) injections in enhancing joint fluid yield.
• To assess the impact of aspiration timing (immediate vs. 3 hours post-injection) on diagnostic yield.

Main Methods:

• Eight medium dog cadavers were used, with stifle, elbow, and carpus joints selected.
• Arthrocentesis was performed pre-injection (control) and post-injection with MO or HS.
• Fluid yield was measured immediately (T1) and 3 hours (T2) after injection.

Main Results:

• Both MO and HS models significantly increased fluid yield compared to controls (p<.05), except for HS at T2 in the carpus.
• Aspiration at T2 generally resulted in lower yield than at T1.
• No significant difference in yield between HS and MO, except for specific joint/time combinations.

Conclusions:

• Both modified cadaver models (MO and HS) are effective for arthrocentesis training.
• Hypertonic saline models are recommended for student practice due to easier aspiration compared to mineral oil.
• The timing of aspiration impacts diagnostic yield, with immediate aspiration being more effective.