🔍 Key Findings

• 39 of 40 checklist items for simulated OVH surgical assessment had good content validity (CVI = 0.81)
• Only 1 of 6 items from the OSATS GRS (respect for tissue) met inclusion criteria (CVI = 0.80)
• Checklist showed strong reliability (G-coefficient = 0.85) for moderate-stakes exams
• Modified OSATS GRS showed acceptable reliability (G-coefficient = 0.79)
• Two raters needed for acceptable reliability in high-stakes exams when using the checklist
• Minimal interrater bias found; variance largely due to interaction among student, rater, and item
• Digital recordings were a reliable method of evaluating surgical performance
• Study supports using checklist over OSATS GRS for assessing preclinical students on simulated models

🔍 Key Findings

• Spaced instruction (SI) improved immediate performance on the first learned skill compared to massed instruction (MI) in both LSU and LMU cohorts.
• Cognitive load was higher in MI students at LMU, particularly in physical demand, effort, and frustration, while LSU showed no significant cognitive load differences.
• Skill performance differences disappeared after 2 weeks of supervised practice, regardless of instructional format.
• Time to complete skills improved over time, but this did not always correlate with improved checklist or global rating scores.
• Intrinsic cognitive load increased when teaching more complex or related surgical tasks in the same session.
• Initial skill complexity and prior exposure may influence effectiveness of spaced vs massed instruction.
• Supervised practice sessions are critical to eliminate initial skill disparities between instructional methods.
• Massed instruction may still be acceptable if followed by scheduled practice opportunities.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• Algorithm 3 had the highest overall accuracy (95.5%) in diagnosing SSIs from client questionnaires.
• Active surveillance identified 19.4% more SSIs compared to passive surveillance alone.
• SSI rate was 8.22% across 754 surgeries; 33.9% of SSIs required revision surgery.
• Client-based responses were 37.9% more frequent than those from referring veterinarians.
• Deep/implant SSIs could be missed if not associated with visible wound healing problems.
• Two late SSIs (after 90 days) occurred, both linked to implant surgeries.
• Algorithm 1 was the most sensitive (87.1%) but less specific; useful for screening.
• Algorithm 2 had the highest specificity (97.9%); useful as a “rule-in” diagnostic method.

🔍 Key Findings

Subject: 7-year-old Labrador underwent cementless total knee replacement (TKR) due to severe stifle OA.

Clinical function:

• Improved ROM from 90° pre-op to 120° post-op.
• Weight-bearing increased from toe-touching to 70% bodyweight by 6 weeks post-op.
• No visible lameness by 14 weeks.

Implant performance:

• No complications at any follow-up points.
• No osteolysis, loosening, or metallosis at 6-year necropsy.

Wear evaluation:

• Mild UHMWPE insert wear, localized to caudal edges.

Histologic findings:

• Robust osseointegration at implant-bone interface.
• Fibrous tissue only in areas lacking porous coating.

Conclusion:

• Cementless TKR demonstrated excellent 6-year survival and functional outcomes.
• Support for considering early surgical intervention in severe stifle OA.

🔍 Key Findings

Internal fixation (IF) group (n=59):

• Complication rate: 20.3%
• Major complications: 15.3%
• Longer time to discharge if complications occurred (median: 12.5 weeks)

External skeletal fixation (ESF) group (n=36):

• Complication rate: 55.6% (p < .001 vs IF)
• Major complications: 52.8%
• Most common issue: pin tract morbidity

Multivariable analysis:

• Use of IF significantly reduced odds of complications (OR 0.23, p = .004)
• Use of post-op antibiotics associated with increased odds of complications (OR 3.53, p = .028)

Fixation choice influenced by age:

• Older puppies more likely to receive IF (OR 1.25 per week increase in age, p < .001)

Breed & fracture distribution:

• Common breeds: Labrador, Border Collie, Whippet
• Common fracture sites: middle and proximal third of tibia

🔍 Key Findings

Objective: Determine if topical 45 mg/mL amikacin in CMC gel leads to systemic absorption in dogs with wounds.

Dogs enrolled: 11 client-owned dogs, with 31 applications of the gel.

Serum findings:

• Only 5 of 153 samples were above the 2.5 µg/mL quantification limit
• All values remained <5 µg/mL, the presumed toxicity threshold
• No correlation was found between dose-related parameters (mg, mg/kg, mg/cm²) and serum amikacin levels

Peak concentrations were observed at ~2 hours post-application, declining rapidly thereafter

No nephrotoxicity observed, and most values were below detection

Conclusion: Topical amikacin gel appears safe at doses up to 24.9 mg/kg, with minimal systemic absorption

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Subjects: 11 animals (8 dogs, 3 cats)
• Technique: Uncovered balloon-expandable metallic biliary stents (BEMBS)
• Indications: Cholelithiasis, strictures, neoplasia, cholangiohepatitis, etc.
• Success: Patency achieved in all animals surviving to discharge
• Complications:
  • Short-term mortality: 2/11 (1 euthanized for SIRS, 1 unknown)
  • Long-term issues: cholangiohepatitis, choledocholithiasis, stent occlusion (in cats only)
• Long-term patency:
  • Dogs: median 650.5 days
  • Cats: median 446 days
• Stent removal possible even after >600 days in some cats
• Clinical outcome: Viable alternative to plastic stents or cholecystoenterostomy

🔍 Key Findings

• Cats with linear (LFBO) and discrete (DFBO) small intestinal obstructions had similar survival (98.2% vs. 97%, p = 1.0).
• Postoperative complications were not significantly different between LFBO and DFBO cases (p = .1386).
• Intestinal dehiscence was rare (only 2 cats), both in DFBOs, with no statistical difference between groups.
• Red rubber catheter technique (RRCT) successfully removed LFBOs in 83% (20/24) of attempts.
• All failed RRCTs occurred in cats with perforations or tissue nonviability.
• Cats with failed RRCTs had longer clinical signs pre-surgery (median 6.5 vs. 2.0 days).
• Surgical time was longer in LFBO cats (median 77 min vs. 58 min, p = .0018).
• Preoperative septic peritonitis was rare (4/169 cats), but occurred only in linear or mixed FBO cases.

🔍 Key Findings

• Skin staple anastomosis (SSA) had comparable leak pressures to hand-sewn anastomosis (HSA) but required half the time to complete.
• Skin staple enterotomy (SSE) had significantly lower leak pressures than hand-sewn enterotomy (HSE) and failed in 12/20 constructs during pressure testing.
• HSE constructs took 8× longer to complete than SSE, but had much higher intraluminal pressure tolerance.
• All SSE constructs leaked from the center, with 35% leaking immediately and 60% showing catastrophic failure.
• SSA leakage occurred at the center in 40% of constructs, likely due to a learning curve in early samples.
• All constructs had higher pressures than normal physiologic intestinal pressure (4.0 mmHg ±2.0), except some SSEs with immediate leaks.
• Authors recommend SSA as a viable alternative with appropriate training but do not recommend SSE using the tested technique in live cats.
• Staple size and placement technique are key factors; smaller or more precisely placed staples may reduce leak risk.