Postoperative Severity Assessment in Sheep

European Surgical Research, vol. 64, pp. 27–36

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sheep are frequently used in translational surgical orthopedic studies. Naturally, a good pain management is mandatory for animal welfare, although it is also important with regard to data quality. However, methods for adequate severity assessment, especially considering pain, are rather rare regarding large animal models. Therefore, in the present study, accompanying a surgical pilot study, telemetry and the Sheep Grimace Scale (SGS) were used in addition to clinical scoring for severity assessment after surgical interventions in sheep. METHODS: Telemetric devices were implanted in a first surgery subcutaneously into four German black-headed mutton ewes (4-5 years, 77-115 kg). After 3-4 weeks of recovery, sheep underwent tendon ablation of the left M. infraspinatus. Clinical scoring and video recordings for SGS analysis were performed after both surgeries, and the heart rate (HR) and general activity were monitored by telemetry. RESULTS: Immediately after surgery, clinical score and HR were slightly increased, and activity was decreased in individual sheep after both surgeries. The SGS mildly elevated directly after transmitter implantation but increased to higher levels after tendon ablation immediately after surgery and on the following day. CONCLUSION: In summary, SGS- and telemetry-derived data were suitable to detect postoperative pain in sheep with the potential to improve individual pain recognition and postoperative management, which consequently contributes to refinement.

Authors 15

1. Eva Zentrich

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

2. Laura Wassermann

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

3. Birgitta Struve

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

4. Manuela Büettner

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

5. Lydia M. Keubler

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

6. Janin Reifenrath

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · Diakovere

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Diakovere Annastift Hospital, Hannover, Germany

   Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

7. Nina Angrisani

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · Diakovere

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Diakovere Annastift Hospital, Hannover, Germany

   Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

8. Merle Kempfert

   Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · Diakovere

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Diakovere Annastift Hospital, Hannover, Germany

   Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

9. Annika Krause

   Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN)

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany

10. Olaf Bellmann

    Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN)

    Affiliation as printed

    Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany

11. Marcin Kopaczka Aachen Institute of Imaging & Computer Vision

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Imaging and Computer Vision, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

12. Dorit Merhof Aachen Institute of Imaging & Computer Vision

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Imaging and Computer Vision, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

13. Marion Bankstahl

    Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

14. André Bleich

    Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

15. Christine Häger

    Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany