🔍 Key Findings

Source: Bush et al., 2023, Veterinary Surgery

• Median survival time (MST) after surgery was 1886 days, which is significantly longer than previously reported.
• Lymph node metastasis at surgery was a negative prognostic factor, reducing MST to 248 days (vs. 2340 days without nodal involvement).
• Local recurrence occurred in 42% of dogs, with a median disease-free interval (DFI) of 191 days.
• Metastatic disease occurred in 32% of dogs, most commonly to the lungs, with a median DFI of 299 days.
• Histologic features (e.g., margin status, capsular, lymphatic, or vascular invasion) were not significantly correlated with recurrence or metastasis.
• Facial nerve injury occurred in 9.7% perioperatively, especially after parotidectomy; intraoperative facial nerve transection led to long-term deficits.
• Adjuvant therapies (chemotherapy, radiation, NSAIDs) did not significantly affect survival time.
• Incisional biopsy was only 38% concordant with final excisional histology, suggesting limited reliability for definitive diagnosis.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Sample: 51 elbows from 35 spaniel dogs
• Healing Rate: Subjective healing (complete or partial) in 80.3% of elbows; complete in 54.9%
• Objective HU analysis: Mean HU increased from 640 (pre-op) to 835 (follow-up) (p = .001)
• Age Effect: Dogs <14 months showed the greatest HU increase (+384 HU) and had wider fissures with less sclerosis
• Complications:
  • Major: 5 dogs (6 limbs); 4 related to fissure healing (7.8%), 2 related to PUO healing (3.9%)
  • Minor: 3 cases (5.8%) due to IM pin migration
• Sclerosis: Older dogs had more humeral condyle sclerosis, possibly limiting healing
• PUO Effectiveness: Confirmed cranio-proximal displacement of anconeal process; aimed to relieve humero-anconeal incongruity
• Control Comparison: Avoids complications associated with transcondylar screw (infection, breakage)

🔍 Key Findings

• Dogs with MPL had significantly shallower femoral trochlear grooves compared to controls, based on CT-measured femoral trochlear groove angle (FTGA).
• FTGA >134° in small breeds (SB) and >128° in medium/large breeds (MLB) were associated with MPL and can serve as surgical thresholds for considering trochleoplasty.
• FTA and FTRIA measurements were less reliable, showing lower sensitivity/specificity than FTGA.
• Inter-rater reliability for FTGA was excellent (ICC > 0.9), supporting its use in clinical decision-making.
• FTGA differed significantly between SB and MLB dogs, suggesting anatomical variation influences MPL predisposition.
• Dogs with MPL but with FTGA below threshold may not benefit from trochleoplasty, supporting individualized surgical planning.
• CT provides more precise and reproducible evaluation of trochlear morphology than radiography or ultrasound.
• The study introduces a CT protocol using P25 and P50 reference points for consistent FTGA measurement.

🔍 Key Findings

• Fascia lata autograft reconstruction of the FCU tendon successfully treated carpal hyperextension in both dogs.
• Primary repair was not possible in one dog due to complete rupture; a fascia lata graft bridged the tendon gap.
• In the second case, elongated tendon was corrected and reinforced with fascia lata to prevent recurrence.
• Type I external skeletal fixation was used for 6 weeks to support tendon healing in both dogs.
• Postoperative gait and range of motion returned to normal, with no recurrence at 36-month follow-up.
• Ultrasonography aided diagnosis, revealing thinning and echogenic changes in the FCU tendon.
• Histologic findings showed mild, nonspecific muscle changes, suggesting injury rather than a systemic disease.
• No complications occurred, and fascia lata showed potential for biological integration and remodeling into tendon-like structure.

🔍 Key Findings

• CBLO was effective for stifle stabilization in skeletally immature dogs with CrCL injuries, avoiding disruption of proximal tibial growth plates.
• Radiographic union of the osteotomy occurred in a mean of 6 weeks (range: 4–8 weeks), indicating rapid bone healing.
• Full limb function was restored in all cases by long-term follow-up (mean 23 months), including dogs with initial complications.
• Two dogs developed 19° valgus deformities due to screw interference with the proximal tibial physis; both were corrected surgically with return to function.
• One dog developed 10° recurvatum due to over-rotation of the tibial plateau, but retained full function without revision.
• CCS (countersink compression screw) caused early apophyseal closure in older dogs but had no adverse clinical effects.
• In contrast, K-wire or plate-only fixation preserved open apophysis, suggesting implant choice may influence growth.
• No meniscal injuries were observed, and all CrCL injuries were managed arthroscopically — 6 complete, 6 partial, 4 avulsions.

🔍 Key Findings

• 12-hole LCPs (80% plate–bone ratio) showed significantly higher construct stiffness than 6-, 8-, or 10-hole plates in both compression and tension bending.
• Strain on the plate was significantly lower in 12-hole vs 6-hole plates at all regions of interest (ROIs), especially around the fracture gap.
• No incremental increases in stiffness or decreases in strain were observed between 6-, 8-, and 10-hole plates—only when comparing to 12-hole plates.
• Bone model strain adjacent to the plate end was significantly lower for 10- and 12-hole plates vs 6-hole plates under both loading conditions.
• The threshold effect suggests biomechanical benefits only emerge beyond a plate–bone ratio of ~80%.
• Working length increased from 9.4 mm (6-hole) to 13 mm (others), potentially influencing strain/stiffness differences.
• Four-point bending was used, as it replicates the most biomechanically relevant force on plated long bones.
• Clinical implication: Longer plates may reduce plate strain and peri-implant bone strain, potentially lowering risk of fatigue failure or stress risers.

🔍 Key Findings

Population: 9 dogs underwent revision of osteointegrated acetabular cups after total hip arthroplasty (THA)

Revision Indications:

• 7 luxations (5 ventral, 2 craniodorsal)
• 1 femoral stem fracture
• 1 aseptic stem loosening

Implants:

• 8 BFX cups, 1 Helica; all revised to BFX
• 7/9 required a larger cup than original

Cup removal: Required sectioning with a high-speed burr and modular osteotome; removal fragments extracted

Complications:

• 1 recurrent luxation
• 1 low-grade infection with possible metallic debris-associated osteolysis
• 2 femoral fissures managed intraoperatively

Outcomes:

• Good to excellent function in 6/6 dogs available at median 621 days
• Minimal complications with success in re-osteointegration of new cup

Clinical takeaway: Revision of stable, ingrown cups is feasible and offers an alternative to pelvic osteotomies; typically requires upsizing

🔍 Key Findings

• Dorsoventral radiographs artificially increase Norberg angle values by 3.2–5.8% and should be excluded.
• Lateral pelvic tilt >2° causes asymmetric changes in Norberg angle; >3° results in significant side-specific changes.
• Cranioventral-to-caudodorsal tilt >10° results in obvious radiographic tilt, but changes Norberg angle by only ~2%.
• Tilted but subjectively acceptable images have minor impact and may still be usable for screening.
• Norberg angle readings differed consistently between left/right hips — possibly due to operator handedness.

🔍 Key Findings

• Overall closure-related complication rate was 14.1%, lower than previously reported (17–78%).
• No clinically meaningful difference in complication rate between orthopedic wire (17.4%) and suture (11.5%) closure methods.
• Dog size (≥20 kg) was the only significant risk factor associated with increased closure-related complications (p = .01).
• Type of closure (wire vs. suture) did not affect risk, even in larger dogs.
• Suture closure showed a non-significant trend toward fewer complications (mean reduction 2.3%, 95% CI: –9.1% to +4.5%).
• Most complications were mild (62%), with only 10 severe cases requiring surgical revision.
• Infection rate was low (2.7%), and not significantly different between wire and suture.
• Suture closure is a valid alternative to wire, including in large dogs, based on this large, multi-institutional study.