How do you treat a mouse’s knee joint? - briefly
Administer appropriate analgesics and non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs, then immobilize the joint with a lightweight splint or cast while maintaining sterile conditions. Follow with regular monitoring and gentle physiotherapy to restore range of motion.
How do you treat a mouse’s knee joint? - in detail
Treating the knee joint of a laboratory mouse requires precise anesthesia, aseptic technique, and systematic post‑operative management.
The animal is first acclimated to handling and weighed to calculate drug dosages. Inhalational isoflurane (1‑2 % in oxygen) or injectable ketamine‑xylazine (80 mg/kg ketamine, 10 mg/kg xylazine, IP) provides reliable anesthesia. Analgesia begins before incision; buprenorphine (0.05‑0.1 mg/kg, SC) or meloxicam (5 mg/kg, SC) are standard choices. The surgical site is shaved, cleaned with 70 % ethanol, then sterilized with povidone‑iodine.
The operative procedure follows these steps:
- Make a 5‑7 mm longitudinal skin incision over the medial femoral condyle.
- Dissect subcutaneous tissue with fine scissors, preserving the underlying fascia.
- Retract the patellar tendon laterally to expose the joint capsule.
- Perform the intended intervention—e.g., intra‑articular injection, meniscal repair, or osteotomy—using microsurgical instruments and a stereomicroscope.
- Irrigate the cavity with sterile saline, then close the capsule with 6‑0 absorbable sutures.
- Approximate skin edges with 5‑0 nylon sutures or tissue adhesive.
After surgery, maintain body temperature with a warming pad until recovery of righting reflex. Continue analgesic administration every 12 h for 48‑72 h. Monitor weight, grooming, and locomotion daily; record any signs of swelling, erythema, or limping. Provide soft bedding and easy access to food and water to reduce stress.
Evaluation of therapeutic outcome includes:
- Radiographic or micro‑CT imaging to assess bone alignment and joint space.
- Gait analysis using a treadmill or pressure‑sensitive walkway to quantify functional recovery.
- Histological examination of cartilage, synovium, and surrounding tissues after euthanasia, employing H&E and Safranin O staining.
Adhering to this protocol ensures consistent, reproducible management of murine knee pathology while minimizing animal discomfort and experimental variability.