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The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery 81:751 (1999)
© 1999 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Editorial

Management of Postoperative Pain in Animals Used in Research

Henry R. Cowell, M.D., Ph.D.

Recently, an editorial in Veterinary and Comparitive Orthopaedics and Traumatology was brought to my attention by its author, G. Sumner-Smith1. The author noted that Veterinary and Comparitive Orthopaedics and Traumatology had "taken as one of its responsiblities the dissemination of information designed to minimize the discomfort of animals," including not only animals that the veterinarian sees as patients, but also animals used in experimental procedures.

The editorial noted in that in most countries there are regulations that "provide for the care of animals that are used in experimental studies." The author emphasized the fact that the management of postoperative patient pain is crucial, whether the patient be a human or an animal. Sumner-Smith noted that he had been told by an orthopaedic surgeon that the orthopaedic surgeon did not give his research animals any postoperative analgesics because he "did not want them moving about and possibly spoil the experiments." Sumner-Smith deplored this callous attitude and stated that he believes, in addition, that "the results of such experiments must be suspect."

In the past, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery has frequently asked authors to include a paragraph regarding the postoperative management of animals used in research. However, this paragraph has not specifically included the management of postoperative pain. As The Journal believes that it is its responsibility to ensure that animals used in studies reported in its pages are properly managed, The Journal will, in the future, require that information regarding the management of postoperative pain be included in the paragraph dealing with the postoperative care of animals.

Just as a statement regarding approval by an institutional review board is necessary for publication of any study of human subjects, a statement that a particular study has been approved by an animal utilization study committee will be required for publication of any manuscript dealing with experimental results in animals in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. I share the hope, expressed by Sumner-Smith, that other journals dealing with orthopaedics and trauma will adopt the same policy.

Henry Cowell, M.D., Ph. D.

Editor

References

  1. Sumner-Smith, G.: Editorial. Veter. and Compar. Orthop. and Traumat., 11(4): 5, 1998.

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