Smith et al: Influence of intra-articular injectate volume on joint surface coverage and leakage following canine elbow arthroscopy: A cadaveric study
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2026

🔍 Key Findings

• Complete synovial coverage at all tested volumes: All 40 elbows from 20 canine cadavers achieved 100% gross coverage, including those receiving the quarter-dose volume.
• Marked volume reduction was feasible: Mean injectate volumes were 0.50 ± 0.16 mL (quarter), 1.01 ± 0.25 mL (half), and 1.96 ± 0.40 mL (whole), based on a full-dose equivalent of 0.5 mg/kg of 0.75% ropivacaine.
• Lower volumes did not reduce leakage severity: Extravasation occurred in all three treatment groups without a discernible dose-dependent pattern.
• Leakage severity was defined anatomically: Mild leakage remained periarticular, moderate leakage extended into muscle, and severe leakage reached subcutaneous tissue or skin (Figure 2, page 5).
• Standardized arthroscopic portal placement: The egress portal was placed along the caudal margin of the medial epicondylar ridge toward the anconeal process; the instrument portal was approximately 1 cm cranial to the camera portal.
• Passive motion facilitated distribution: Each elbow underwent 10 flexion–extension cycles before dissection; camera portal placement was successful on the first attempt in 80% of elbows.
• Clinical implications depend on the injected substance: Periarticular local anesthetic leakage may provide additional analgesia, whereas extravasation of corticosteroids or orthobiologics may reduce therapeutic retention.
• Clinical efficacy remains unproven: The cadaveric India ink model measured gross distribution rather than analgesia, drug retention, or chondrotoxicity. No formal dose-group statistical comparisons were performed; prospective in vivo studies are required.