Your Custom Quiz
In Woelfel 2022 et al., on cervical locked facets, what was the most consistent outcome in dogs with follow-up?
🔍 Key Findings
- Locked facet injuries in dogs involved unilateral dorsal displacement of the cranial articular process of the caudal vertebra, most commonly at C5/6 or C6/7.
- All affected dogs were small/toy breeds, typically following trauma (most often attacks by larger dogs).
- Neurologic severity ranged from ambulatory tetraparesis to tetraplegia, often with thoracic limb deficits more severe than pelvic limbs — suggesting a central cord syndrome-like pattern.
- CT and MRI revealed axial rotation, subluxation, and articular process displacement; MRI showed T2 hyperintensity, nerve root impingement, and soft tissue changes.
- Surgical treatment included ventral fixation with screws, pins, and PMMA, and one case required dorsal facetectomy for reduction.
- Medical management, including external coaptation or rest, also resulted in functional recovery in select cases.
- All dogs with follow-up data (8/8) had functional recovery, with nonambulatory dogs regaining ambulation in a median of 4 weeks.
- No consistent differences in outcome were observed between surgical and nonsurgical management, suggesting locked facets may be biomechanically stable.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Subaxial cervical articular process subluxation and dislocation: Cervical locked facet injuries in dogs
2022-1-VS-woelfel-5
In Violini 2024 et al., on 3D-guided spinal stabilization in brachycephalic dogs, what clinical finding was reported in 7 of 10 mid-term cases despite all being ambulatory?
🔍 Key Findings
- Spinal stabilization with 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides (3D-PSGs) was safe, with no immediate perioperative complications reported.
- 84% of pedicle screws were optimally placed, and only 0.5% breached the spinal canal, reflecting high placement accuracy.
- 80% of dogs experienced no neurologic deterioration postoperatively, indicating reliable short-term safety.
- 3D-PSGs were accurate and reproducible, even across multiple institutions and surgeons.
- Mid-term outcomes were favorable: all dogs were ambulatory, and 90% had static or improved neurologic signs.
- 7 of 10 mid-term follow-ups showed abnormal gait, though owners rated lifestyle ≥3/5, suggesting acceptable function.
- 3D-printed guides enabled precise pedicle screw placement in deformed vertebrae, expanding options in small breeds.
- One dog suffered a T4 spinous process fracture due to overextension of PMMA cement, emphasizing the need for cement placement caution.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Clinical outcomes of 20 brachycephalic dogs with thoracolumbar spinal deformities causing neurological signs treated with spinal stabilization using 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides
2024-4-VS-violini-4
In Song 2024 et al., on CT vs cystoscopy for ectopic ureters in dogs, what did the authors conclude regarding CT's role in surgical planning?
🔍 Key Findings
- CT correctly identified ectopic ureters in 91% of dogs, but missed 50% of normal ureters, limiting its negative predictive value.
- Sensitivity for intramural ectopic ureters was 65%, while specificity was 71%, indicating moderate diagnostic performance.
- Sensitivity for extramural ectopic ureters was only 29%, despite a high specificity of 97%.
- CT was inaccurate in predicting ureteral orifice location, with sensitivity ranging from 0% to 76% depending on the site.
- 26% of dogs were misclassified for cystoscopic laser ablation (CLA) eligibility based on CT findings alone.
- Overall CT accuracy for CLA candidacy was 74%, but a significant minority would have been inappropriately treated.
- Multivariate analysis found no predictive factors (e.g., colon distension, body weight) for when CT would be incorrect.
- Authors recommend confirmatory cystoscopy to verify CT findings prior to treatment planning.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2024
Receiver operating characteristics of computed tomography (CT) compared to cystoscopy in diagnosis of canine ectopic ureters: Thirty-five cases
2024-3-VS-song-5
In Haine 2022 et al., on outcomes in canine limb tumors, what was the overall R1 rate following planned narrow excision for soft tissue sarcomas?
🔍 Key Findings
- Fewer R1 margins (tumor on ink) were achieved in mast cell tumors (MCTs) when using 6–10 mm lateral margins versus 0–5 mm (7% vs. 55%; _P_ = .049).
- For soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), no benefit was seen in margin completeness between 0–5 mm vs. 6–10 mm lateral margins (41% vs. 43% R1).
- Overall R1 rates were 26% for MCTs and 42% for STSs following PNE.
- R scheme (“tumor on ink” = R1) had better interobserver agreement (83%) compared to ≤1 mm margin criteria (68% agreement).
- Complication rate was moderate (26%), but no surgeries required revision.
- Local recurrence/metastasis occurred in 14% of dogs, with 60% of those having R1 margins.
- Adjunctive therapy was considered clinically indicated in 46% of 0–5 mm margin cases vs. 24% of 6–10 mm cases.
- Histologic grade and tumor size were not predictive of margin completeness.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2022
Incomplete histological margins following planned narrow excision of canine appendicular soft tissue sarcomas and mast cell tumors, using the residual tumor classification scheme
2022-7-VS-haine-3
In Mullins 2023 et al., on thoracolumbar pin placement, what was the **mean duration** for pin placement using the 3DPG technique?
🔍 Key Findings
- Both free-hand probing (FHP) and 3D-printed guides (3DPG) enabled accurate spinal pin placement, with 87.5% vs 96.4% of pins graded as optimal (Grade I).
- 3DPGs had fewer intraoperative deviations (0/56 pins) compared to 6/56 with the FHP technique.
- No pins using either method fully breached the medial vertebral canal (Grade IIb) — a critical safety outcome.
- Pins placed using 3DPGs required less time overall (mean 2.6 min) than FHP (mean 4.5 min).
- FHP required specific experience and has a learning curve, whereas 3DPG use requires CAD software and 3D printing access.
- FHP had more lateral canal violations (Grade IIIa: 4/56 vs 0/56 for 3DPG), suggesting slightly less precision.
- Both techniques were safe, and all deviations were recognized and corrected intraoperatively.
- 3DPGs may offer practical advantages in clinical settings lacking surgical expertise, while FHP allows immediate intervention without 3D printing delay.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
Accuracy of pin placement in the canine thoracolumbar spine using a free-hand probing technique versus 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides: An ex-vivo study
2023-5-VS-mullins-3
In Murphy 2024 et al., which factor was **not** significantly associated with contralateral CCLR risk?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Prevalence of contralateral CCLR in dogs ≥8 years and ≥15kg was 19.1%, notably lower than previous studies (33–50%).
- Median time to contralateral CCLR was 12.9 months.
- Older age reduced risk — 2% decrease per month of age (p=0.003).
- Golden Retrievers and Labradors had significantly lower risk (p=0.028 and p=0.007, respectively).
- No effect found from TPA, meniscal injury, or comorbidities (e.g., hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism).
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
1
2024
The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Contralateral Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Medium-to-Large (≥15kg) Breed Dogs 8 Years of Age or Older
2024-1-VCOT-murphy-5
In Carrera 2024 et al., on early MPL correction, which deformity was most frequently associated with grade III patellar luxation in juvenile dogs?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- 5 juvenile dogs (mean age 7.2 months) with grade III–IV MPL were treated surgically.
- Most had femoral varus + external tibial torsion; some had shallow trochlear grooves.
- Distal femoral osteotomy was performed in 4/5 dogs; Tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT) in 3/5; Sulcoplasty in 2/5.
- Mean time to weight bearing: 9.8 ± 5.5 days; healing: 55 ± 24 days
- No reluxations, and final radiographic values for aLDFA and torsion were maintained at 1 year.
- One complication due to domestic trauma, not surgical failure.
- Early surgery appeared to preserve alignment and prevent deformity progression.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
2
2024
Early Surgical Management of Medial Patellar Luxation in Juvenile Dogs
2024-2-VCOT-carrera-1
In Hernon 2023 et al., on flushing the CBD, which of the following best describes the sensitivity of ultrasonographic detection of free abdominal fluid for diagnosing gallbladder rupture?
🔍 Key Findings
- Flushing the common bile duct (CBD) during cholecystectomy did not result in improved hepatobiliary markers compared to no flushing.
- Cholecystectomy alone significantly reduced ALP, ALT, GGT, bilirubin, and cholesterol 3 days postoperatively (p < .05 for all).
- Survival to discharge was 90.3%, with no survival difference between flushed and non-flushed groups.
- Postoperative pancreatitis occurred in 12.9% of dogs, evenly distributed between groups, suggesting flushing did not increase risk.
- Most common complication was regurgitation (29%), not significantly different between groups.
- Free abdominal fluid had low sensitivity (29%) but moderate specificity (73%) for gallbladder rupture.
- No difference in duration of hospitalization or postoperative complications between groups.
- Gallbladder rupture rate was 12.9%, lower than previously reported in literature.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
The effect of flushing of the common bile duct on hepatobiliary markers and short‐term outcomes in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for the management of gall bladder mucocele: A randomized controlled prospective study
2023-5-VS-hernon-4
In Pfund 2025 et al., on femoral cortical thickness, what was the key preoperative radiographic predictor of femoral fissure or fracture in dogs undergoing THR?
🔍 Key Findings
- Lower CTI values were significantly associated with higher risk of both intraoperative and postoperative femoral fractures or fissures (p <.0001).
- The mean CTI for all dogs was 0.285, whereas dogs with fissures/fractures had a mean CTI of 0.246.
- For each 0.001 increase in CTI, odds of fissure/fracture decreased by 2–3% depending on perioperative timing.
- High interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.984) and consistency between pre- and postoperative CTI measurements (ICC = 0.96).
- CTI was the only significant risk factor identified; age, breed, bodyweight, BCS, CFI, or luxoid hips were not significant.
- Prophylactic lateral plating in dogs with low CTI (mean 0.230) resulted in no postoperative fractures.
- Postoperative fractures occurred in 8% of cases, and 93% of dogs returned to full function within one year.
- CTI may be a useful radiographic screening tool, especially when advanced imaging (e.g., DEXA) is unavailable.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Femoral cortical thickness index in a population of dogs undergoing total hip replacement
2025-6-VS-pfund-1
In Guevara 2024 et al., on implant placement accuracy, what was considered an acceptable placement grade using the modified Zdichavsky classification?
🔍 Key Findings:
- Sample: 24 canine cadavers, 477 total pins across 240 vertebrae.
- Technique Comparison: 3D printed guides (3DPG) vs freehand (FH).
- Acceptable Placement Rates: 3DPG = 87.5%, FH = 69.8% (p < .0001).
- Odds Ratio for FH: 0.28 (95% CI 0.16–0.47), significantly less likely to yield acceptable placement.
- Worst Accuracy Locations: T10 (OR 0.10), T11 (OR 0.35).
- Surgeon Impact: Surgeon 2 outperformed others (OR 9.61, p = .001).
- Modified Zdichavsky Classification used to score implant accuracy (Grades I–IIIb).
- Primary Benefit of 3DPG: Increased safety and precision, regardless of surgeon experience.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Ex vivo comparison of pin placement with patient-specific drill guides or freehand technique in canine cadaveric spines
2024-2-VS-guevara-4
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings