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In Alvarez 2022 et al., on rehabilitation modalities, which therapy showed consistent positive outcomes in two Level II studies with low risk of bias?
🔍 Key Findings
- Exercise-based rehabilitation showed benefits in 6 of 7 studies, including increased peak vertical force (PVF) and reduced lameness, though most had high risk of bias (RoB).
- Cold compression therapy (CCT) had 2 high-quality (Level II, low RoB) studies showing improvements in pain scores, range of motion, and swelling, supporting its clinical use.
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) was supported by 2 Level II studies; only one had low RoB, showing short-term benefits in patellar ligament thickness and PVF, but no long-term benefit on bone healing.
- Photobiomodulation (PBM) had mixed results across 3 Level II studies (all low RoB); only 1 showed positive impact on PVF, limiting its recommendation.
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) showed no significant impact on gait analysis or bone healing in a Level II, low RoB study.
- Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) improved lameness and thigh circumference in one Level III study, but had high-moderate RoB and involved experimentally-induced CCL rupture, limiting clinical relevance.
- No modality beyond exercise and CCT had consistent or strong evidence for efficacy in post-TPLO or extracapsular repair rehabilitation.
- The absence of standardized protocols, small sample sizes, and inconsistent outcome measures limited the generalizability of findings.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2022
Systematic review of postoperative rehabilitation interventions after cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs
2022-2-VS-alvarez-2
In Cabreira 2026 et al., on dorsal AAI implant, what was the maximum stress recorded in the implant during finite element testing?
🔍 Key Findings
- A patient-specific dorsal implant for atlantoaxial stabilization was developed using CT-based 3D modeling, enabling customized implant design and safe screw trajectory planning.
- The implant accommodates six 1.7-mm bicortical locking screws, including two transarticular screws plus two screws in each vertebra (atlas lateral masses and axis lamina/spinous base).
- The implant also functions as a drilling guide, allowing the screw-head housing to accept a threaded drill guide that ensures accurate drilling along predefined safe corridors.
- An opening around the C1–C2 intervertebral foramen was incorporated to avoid injury to the C2 nerve root during dorsal instrumentation.
- Finite element analysis evaluated implant behavior under flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and torsion using loads of 50 N (physiologic) and 107 N (supraphysiologic).
- Maximum stress occurred during lateral flexion with axis fixation (425 MPa), which remained well below the titanium alloy yield strength of 880 MPa, indicating no mechanical failure.
- Maximum implant displacement was minimal (0.13 mm), far less than the approximately 2 mm movement of the intact atlantoaxial joint under physiologic loading.
- The implant design demonstrated adequate rigidity and mechanical safety in simulation, suggesting potential to improve dorsal stabilization while avoiding complications associated with PMMA constructs.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
1
2026
Development and Finite Element Analysis of a Patient-Specific Implant for Atlantoaxial Joint Stabilization via Dorsal Approach in Dogs
2026-1-vcot-cabreira-4
In Eiger 2024 et al., on NIRFA-ICG in axial flaps, which flap had the highest visibility score (VFP 4) across all surgeons?
🔍 Key Findings
- Caudal superficial epigastric (CSE) flaps were most visible with NIRFA, scoring 4/4 VFP in 97% of evaluations.
- CSE flap margins were altered in 65% of observations after NIRFA, showing the strongest influence on surgical planning.
- Thoracodorsal (THO) and omocervical (OMO) flaps had lower visualization scores, with 60–81% of images scoring below 2.
- Surgeons were 17–25 times more likely to adjust margins for CSE flaps versus OMO or THO based on fluorescence imaging.
- Poor inter-rater agreement was found for OMO (ICC 0.49) and THO (ICC 0.35); CSE had near-perfect agreement, but ICC was low due to uniform high scoring.
- Visualization was affected by flap depth and panniculus, making deeper vessels (OMO, THO) harder to see.
- Surgeons often shortened flap length and reduced flap area when modifying based on NIRFA results.
- Real-time angiosome visualization via NIRFA-ICG may reduce necrosis risk and improve patient-specific APF design.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2024
Use of near‐infrared fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green to evaluate direct cutaneous arteries used for canine axial pattern flaps
2024-6-VS-eiger-1
In Huels 2025 et al., on second-generation screw cup THA, what was the most common major complication encountered in this THA case series?
🔍 Key Findings
- Total complication rate was 16.7%, with 5/30 hips experiencing major complications, mostly related to the femoral component.
- Cup-associated complications were rare (3.3%), with only one case of acetabular cup luxation attributed to surgical technique rather than implant failure.
- No cases of late aseptic loosening were observed during a median follow-up of 17.5 months.
- Implant stability was attributed to the SCSL's porous, trabecular titanium surface, enhancing osseointegration.
- Three femoral stem fractures occurred in a single dog, leading to implant removal; material testing was not performed.
- Most complications were femoral in origin (6/7), not acetabular, suggesting improved performance of the SCSL.
- Explantation rate was 13% (4/30), but some removals were due to owner preference against revision.
- Subjective functional outcome was full recovery in 26/30 hips, including one with successful revision of stem subsidence.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
2
2025
Complications and Long-Term Outcome in 30 Canine Total Hip Arthroplasties Using a Second-Generation Selective Laser Melted Screw Cup
2025-2-VCOT-huels-4
In Boullenger 2025 et al., on traumatic patellar luxation, what was the most common grade of luxation reported at presentation?
🔍 Key Findings
- Patients: 16 (11 dogs, 5 cats); 6.1% of canine and 23.8% of feline PL cases were traumatic.
- Most common luxation direction: Medial (81.3%).
- Surgery: All had capsular imbrication; 75% had fabello-patellar suture (FPS).
- Short-term results (13/16 cases):
- 77% had no lameness by 2 months.
- 85% had no PL recurrence.
- 3 severe complications: capsulorrhaphy tear, FPS fabellar tear, septic arthritis.
- Long-term results (13/16 cases):
- 85% lameness-free.
- 77% full function; 23% acceptable.
- 0 reluxations reported by owners.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
1
2025
Clinical Presentation, Surgical Treatment, and Outcome of Traumatic Patellar Luxation in 11 Dogs and 5 Cats: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study between 2011 and 2022
2025-1-VC-boullenger-2
In Mullen 2023 et al., on microvascular perfusion, why was the green TA (4.8 mm) cartridge selected for stapled enterectomies?
🔍 Key Findings
- Microvascular density at the site of foreign body obstruction was significantly lower in obstructed dogs compared to healthy controls.
- PBR (perfused boundary region) was paradoxically lower in obstructed dogs, indicating that PBR may not reliably correlate with tissue viability in this context.
- No significant difference in microvascular perfusion between subjectively viable vs nonviable intestines, suggesting subjective assessment is unreliable.
- No difference in perfusion parameters between handsewn and stapled enterectomies, indicating both techniques preserve vascular health equally.
- Stapled enterectomy using green TA staples is safe and did not impair intestinal perfusion at the anastomosis site.
- SDF videomicroscopy is feasible intraoperatively and can differentiate healthy from diseased intestine in dogs.
- Surgeons' subjective evaluations led to potentially unnecessary enterectomies, as microvascular parameters did not differ.
- No cases of dehiscence or mortality, suggesting both surgical approaches are effective when applied properly.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2023
A quantitative evaluation of the effect of foreign body obstruction and enterectomy technique on canine small intestinal microvascular health
2023-4-VS-mullen-5
In Mazdarani 2025 et al., on simulated muscle loading, which fixation model produced the most physiologic quadriceps forces?
🔍 Key Findings
- Simulated quadriceps and gastrocnemius forces increased proportionally with axial load in all three femoral fixation models.
- Model 2 (rigid fixation) resulted in subphysiologic quadriceps forces and abnormally high gastrocnemius forces, reducing model fidelity.
- Models 1 and 3 (with hip mobility) produced more physiologic quadriceps and force ratios, especially under 30–40% bodyweight loads.
- Force ratios were significantly lower in rigid fixation (Model 2) compared to hip-mobile models (p = .007), suggesting model design affects simulated muscle coordination.
- Joint angles (stifle and hock) remained within acceptable limits, though slight flexion occurred with increasing load.
- Relative foot position differed by ~3.9 mm between models 2 and 3, with model 2 showing a more caudal position.
- Model 3 preserved benefits of hip mobility while allowing radiographic documentation, making it a preferred setup for future studies.
- The study suggests that models used in feline stifle stabilization research may underestimate physiologic forces, especially with rigid fixation designs.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2025
Proximal femoral fixation method and axial load affect simulated muscle forces in an ex vivo feline limb press
2025-5-VS-mazdarani-1
In Levine 2025 et al., on thoracoscopic pericardiectomy, which approach avoided the need for one-lung ventilation?
🔍 Key Findings
Study design: Randomized cadaveric comparison (n=20 dogs; ILR vs PDR)
Approaches:
- ILR = Intercostal in Left Lateral Recumbency (no OLV required)
- PDR = Paraxiphoid in Dorsal Recumbency (traditional)
Outcomes:
- Pericardiectomy time was shorter for ILR (p = .045)
- Pericardial fragment size was significantly larger in PDR group (p = .004; 23.21 cm² difference)
- Visibility and cardiac exposure were superior in PDR group
Feasibility:
- ILR approach was consistently successful in achieving partial pericardiectomy
- Bilateral ventilation was adequate; no need for OLV
Clinical relevance:
- ILR may improve efficiency when paired with TDL
- PDR remains preferable for cases requiring maximal pericardial resection
Veterinary Surgery
1
2025
Intercostal thoracoscopic pericardiectomy in left lateral recumbency: A cadaveric study of feasibility, efficiency, and extent of pericardial resection
2025-1-VS-levine-2
In Bresciani 2022 et al., on modified urethrostomy outcomes, what complication required surgical revision in 2 cats?
🔍 Key Findings
- Modified prepubic urethrostomy (mPPU) was effective for managing proximal urethral obstructions in male cats.
- All 8 cats regained voluntary urination within 24 hours postoperatively.
- Early urinary incontinence and peristomal dermatitis occurred in all cats but were self-limiting.
- Two cats (25%) required surgical revision due to stomal obstruction from weight gain and abdominal fat.
- No intraoperative complications were reported in any of the 8 cats.
- Follow-up (13–84 months) showed sustained urinary continence and owner satisfaction in all cases.
- The rectus abdominis muscle tunnel likely increased outflow resistance, minimizing persistent incontinence.
- Recurrent hematuria and dysuria occurred in 3 cats but were managed conservatively.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2022
Modified prepubic urethrostomy with body wall tunneling: Description of technique and long-term outcome in eight male cats
2022-2-VS-bresciani-4
In Cinti 2026 et al., on feline caudal axial flaps, how many cats required surgical revision to manage complications?
🔍 Key Findings
- The lateral caudal axial pattern flap was successfully used to reconstruct caudodorsal trunk defects in cats, most commonly following tumor excision (85.7%).
- Mean flap length was 61.3% of tail length, aligning with canine recommendations of ~60–78% to reduce distal necrosis risk.
- Postoperative complications occurred in 50% of cats, although many experienced more than one minor complication.
- Most common complications were partial flap dehiscence, seroma, and edema (each 14.2%).
- Uncomplicated healing occurred in 57.1% of cats, while the remaining 42.8% had only minor complications not requiring surgical revision.
- No cats required revision surgery for complications, indicating acceptable clinical outcomes despite the moderate complication rate.
- Seromas resolved spontaneously despite the routine use of active drains, suggesting they may be a relatively common but minor complication.
- Local tumor control was achieved in 83.3% of cats undergoing tumor excision, with a median follow-up of 135 days.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2026
Outcome and complications of lateral caudal axial pattern flap in 14 cats
2026-2-vs-cinti-5
Quiz Results
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