🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• Postoperative complications occurred in 20% of stifles, including 7.5% minor, 10.3% surgical, and 3.4% medical complications.
• The PROSPECT machine-learning model achieved high predictive accuracy: 92.3% for surgical complications, 91.9% for minor, and 94.3% for medical.
• Top predictive features included surgical technique, implant type, patient age, and surgeon identity.
• Surgeon-specific variables influenced predictions, indicating operator experience and technique matter.
• Engineered interaction features (e.g., breed × implant) were more predictive than raw clinical data alone.
• Rottweiler, intact male status, and higher bodyweight were associated with increased complication risk; Labradors had decreased risk.
• Model calibration was strong, especially for high and low probability predictions; midrange predictions were less reliable.
• The model supports individualized, probabilistic risk assessment, which could inform client counseling and tailored postoperative care.

PROSPECT = Predicting Risk Of Surgical compli­cations aftEr CCWO and TPLO

🔍 Key Findings

• Mediastinoscopy was technically feasible in large-breed canine cadavers using a SILS port and standard laparoscopic instruments.
• The left tracheobronchial lymph node (LTBLN) was successfully retrieved in all cadavers (7/7), while cranial mediastinal lymph nodes were retrieved in only 1/7.
• Postprocedural pleural gas was observed in 4/7 cadavers, likely due to CO₂ insufflation.
• Instrument limitations with a human-designed mediastinoscope led to preference for laparoscopic instruments and SILS port for improved access and visualization.
• Complication rates were low, with only two minor (Grade 1) adverse events (pleural tear and LN rupture).
• Obesity and mediastinal fat were cited as potential challenges to visualization and node retrieval.
• NASA-TLX workload scores were lowest for tracheobronchial nodes, indicating these were the easiest to access.
• The authors concluded this approach may facilitate minimally invasive biopsy or resection of cranial mediastinal masses in live dogs, but clinical trials are needed to validate safety and efficacy.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Subjects: 12 healthy colony cats, 68 total liver samples collected via laparoscopy
• Biopsy instruments: 3 mm vs 5 mm Storz Blakesley cup forceps
• Techniques: Twist (T), Pull (P), Twist + Pull (TP)
• Results:
  • 5 mm forceps yielded significantly more hepatic lobules (mean 12.4 vs 4.9), portal triads (29.6 vs 19.0), weight, and histologic area (p < .01)
  • T and P techniques yielded more portal triads and lobules than TP (p = .003 and p = .015)
  • TP technique resulted in greater tissue crush vs T (p = .01)
  • Good diagnostic agreement between 3 mm and 5 mm samples only with TP (κ = 0.75)
  • All samples were of sufficient diagnostic quality, despite size or technique
• Clinical implication: Both 3 mm and 5 mm forceps are viable; further studies are needed to confirm diagnostic accuracy of 3 mm samples

🔍 Key Findings

• LVSG was feasible in 9/10 feline cadavers and both live cats, with no intra- or postoperative complications in live cases.
• Two cadavers developed suspected stenosis due to staple lines too close to the lesser curvature; avoided with orogastric tube placement in later cases.
• No evidence of gastric leakage in any cadavers (8/10 tested) or live patients after methylene blue leak tests.
• Mean surgical time was ~110 min cadavers / 115 min live, and 27.6% of stomach mass was resected.
• Both live cats recovered uneventfully, lost 21–24% body weight over 3 months, and had no GI complications at 6-month follow-up.
• Orogastric tube and tension on the greater curvature were critical to avoid staple line misplacement or stenosis.
• No oversew of the staple line was needed, and unreinforced staples showed no leakage in live patients.
• Future studies needed to assess metabolic outcomes and ideal staple sizing and closure techniques.

🔍 Key Findings

• CBLO fixation with both a headless compression screw (HCS) and tension band (TB) showed the highest yield and ultimate loads compared to other configurations
• HCSTB constructs had significantly higher yield load (1212 N) and ultimate load (1388 N) than Plate alone (788 N, 774 N), HCS alone (907 N, 927 N), or TB alone (1016 N, 1076 N)
• No difference in construct stiffness was detected among the four fixation methods tested
• All constructs ultimately failed by bone fracture—location of failure differed by construct type (e.g., through HCS hole or cranial screw hole)
• TB and HCSTB groups showed failure via progressive TB stretching and cranial osteotomy widening, while Plate and HCS failed more abruptly
• All constructs withstood forces exceeding expected quadriceps load in vivo (170–325 N), suggesting all methods can resist physiological loading, but HCSTB provides greater safety margin
• HCS alone was not significantly stronger than Plate or TB alone, questioning its standalone superiority
• Study supports using TB and HCS together for optimal construct strength, but clinical studies are needed to validate implant fatigue, healing, and failure rates

🔍 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

• Dorsal scrotal arteries, branching from the ventral perineal arteries, are the dominant arterial supply to the scrotum in dogs.
• The ventral scrotal arteries, arising from the external pudendal arteries, perfused only the cranial scrotal border and were inconsistently present or absent in some dogs.
• A scrotal flap based on the dorsal scrotal arteries showed strong perfusion and may be a viable axial pattern flap.
• Perfusion was consistent across fresh and frozen cadavers, showing no difference due to preservation method.
• Poor flap survival (27%) occurred when based on cranial supply alone (i.e., ventral scrotal arteries), confirming importance of preserving caudal supply.
• There are anastomoses between dorsal and ventral scrotal arteries, offering collateral flow but insufficient alone for complete perfusion.
• Scrotal flaps based on the caudal pedicle may be applicable for reconstruction of proximal medial/lateral thigh wounds.
• Proposed flap requires careful preservation of ventral perineal arteries, ideally designed 2.5–3 cm lateral to midline in large dogs.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Ex vivo cadaver study using 5 paired canine thoracic limbs
• Compared medial opening wedge osteotomy (MOWO) and external rotational osteotomy (ERO) of the humerus
• Measured pressure changes in the medial compartment using thin-film sensors
• ERO significantly reduced peak pressure and pressure distribution in the medial elbow compartment (p < 0.05)
• MOWO showed no significant pressure reduction relative to native state
• Combined MOWO + ERO did not significantly improve over ERO alone
• Findings support the biomechanical rationale for ERO as a surgical strategy to offload the medial compartment in cases like medial compartment disease (MCD)