ABSTRACT
The design of the surgical and support areas should be such that all aspects of providing appropriate medical and surgical practices are facilitated. Facilities and equipment should be suitable for the species of animals utilized and the complexity of the procedures performed. Regulatory and legal guidelines must also be met. This chapter provides an overview of the issues related to animal anesthesia and surgery. Preoperative care procedures and health monitoring will vary with the species utilized and the requirements of the experiment. All protocols should require the use of healthy and relatively young animals. Orthopaedic procedures are generally invasive major surgeries requiring deep surgical anesthesia. The anesthetic protocol should provide anesthesia, analgesia and muscle relaxation while maintaining homeostasis. Postoperative analgesia should be required for all orthopaedic protocols unless a specific scientific justification exists for witholding them. The postoperative period can be divided into two important phases, recovery from anesthesia and the period of tissue healing.
