Clinical and hematological indicators under different methods of dogs treatment with sacroiliac joint instability

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop an algorithm for the clinical examination of dogs with traumatic sacroiliac joint (SIJ) instability and to compare hematological changes under different surgical intervention methods and anesthetic protocols. The study was conducted on 21 dogs with traumatic SIJ instability, divided into three groups of 7 animals each, at the “Discovery” veterinary clinic (Dnipro, Ukraine, 2020–2025). The first group underwent open surgical intervention with postoperative analgesia using lidocaine (2 mg/kg/h intravenously). The second group received minimally invasive closed surgery with the same analgesia protocol. The third group underwent minimally invasive surgery with postoperative epidural analgesia using 0.2% bupivacaine. Diagnosis was based on clinical signs (pain syndrome, lameness, movement asymmetry) and radiographic findings. Hematological parameters (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets) were analyzed before surgery and on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 48 post-surgery. In the first group, a significant decrease in erythrocytes and hemoglobin (p<0.05) was observed on days 3–7, indicating a pronounced systemic response to trauma. In the second and third groups, red blood cell parameters stabilized faster, and leukocyte counts normalized by day 14 (compared to day 48 in the first group), suggesting a reduced inflammatory response with minimally invasive methods. Platelet levels showed a tendency to decrease in the early days across all groups but normalized by days 14–21. In the third group, platelet levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) on day 48, though within normal limits. The results indicate that minimally invasive surgical methods provide faster recovery and a reduced inflammatory response. The closed minimally invasive method is recommended for treating SIJ instability in dogs.