🔍 Key Findings

50 dogs underwent bilateral anal sacculectomy using a modified closed technique.
Intraoperative anal sac perforation occurred in 5 dogs (10%), with no postoperative complications in those dogs.
Postoperative complications (43 dogs with follow-up):

• Grade 1 (e.g., scooting, inappropriate defecation): 14/43 (32%)
• Grade 2 (medical treatment needed): 2/43 (5%)
• Grade 3B (revision surgery): 2/43 (5%)

93% of grade 1 and 100% of grade 2–3B complications resolved by two weeks postop.
Technique highlights: direct duct tracking, no anal sac packing, minimal dissection.

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D-printed patient-specific guides (PSGs) improved tibial cut alignment in the frontal plane compared to generic guides (mean error 1.03° vs 2.41°, p = .036).
• All tibial cuts using PSGs were within 3° of target alignment, while 2/8 of the generic group were outliers.
• PSGs significantly improved sagittal alignment of both distal (p = .018) and cranial (p = .043) femoral cuts.
• No significant difference was found in varus-valgus femoral alignment or closing angle between PSG and generic guide groups.
• Tibial sagittal slope alignment was not significantly different between groups.
• PSGs provided better intraoperative usability, including improved visibility, no loosening, and ease of use.
• Femoral sizing and component fit were equivalent between PSGs and generic guides, ensuring proper prosthesis alignment.
• PSGs may offer training advantages for novice surgeons, especially in anatomically complex or deformed joints.

🔍 Key Findings

• Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization (AA-HTS) was successfully completed in all 14 feline cadaver joints.
• Femoral and acetabular tunnel creation was feasible in all cases, though femoral tunnel placement had a higher rate of deviations.
• Intraoperative complications occurred in 5/14 joints, mostly related to femoral tunnel creation and toggle lodging.
• Minor articular cartilage injury (<10% total cartilage area) occurred in 10/14 joints, but no injury to neurovascular or intrapelvic structures.
• Thirteen surgical technique deviations (8 major, 5 minor) were identified in 7 joints, all involving the femoral tunnel.
• Toggle passage through the femoral tunnel was the most challenging step, being mildly difficult in 6 joints.
• Postoperative CT and gross dissection confirmed all toggles and buttons were in correct position, without damage to major surrounding structures.
• No deviations, complications, or cartilage injuries occurred in the last 4 joints, suggesting a learning curve effect.

🔍 Key Findings

• Craniolateral approach (CLA) exposed significantly more radial surface area than craniomedial approach (CMA) (19.4 cm² vs. 13.8 cm²; p = 0.01).
• Proximal width of exposure was greater in CLA, especially at 12.5% length (P2 level, p = 0.016), aiding plate placement.
• No significant difference in exposed bone length between approaches.
• CLA avoided major neurovascular structures, making dissection cleaner and safer proximally.
• CMA consistently encountered median nerve/artery/vein, complicating proximal exposure.
• CLA allowed better access to proximal radius for locking plate application, which may benefit MIPO techniques.
• CLA also enables ulna fixation via the same incision, whereas CMA requires a separate skin incision.
• Anatomical tilt of the proximal cranial surface favored CLA, requiring less plate contouring than CMA for proper fit.

🔍 Key Findings

• Study population: 36 brachycephalic dogs (20 French bulldogs, 16 pugs).
• Objective: Compare intra- and interobserver reliability for fluoroscopic measurement of nasopharyngeal collapse using two methods:
  • Functional method
  • Anatomically adjusted method
• Key measurements: Minimum (LMin), maximum (LMax) dorsoventral height, and dynamic change ratio (ΔL).
• Outcomes:
  • Intraobserver agreement for ΔL was higher with the functional method (ICC 0.751 vs. 0.576).
  • Observer 1 (radiologist) showed excellent repeatability (>0.9 ICC).
  • Agreement for grading collapse was only moderate (κ ~0.49–0.53), worse than ΔL-based agreement.
  • ΔL ≥ 0.5 to <1 = partial collapse; ΔL = 1 = complete collapse.

🔍 Key Findings

• TPLO alone failed to neutralize rotational instability under tibial pivot compression (TPT), despite a negative TCT.
• TPLO combined with lateral augmentation (TPLO-IB) restored both craniocaudal and rotational stability to near-intact levels.
• Cranial tibial translation was 6× greater after TPLO vs intact stifles when tested with TPT (p < .001).
• No significant difference in cranial tibial translation or internal rotation between intact stifles and TPLO-IB group during TCT, eTPT, or iTPT.
• TPLO-IB did not overconstrain the stifle, avoiding excessive external rotation.
• External tibial rotation (eTPT) was more sensitive than TCT in detecting persistent instability after TPLO.
• Excellent intraobserver reliability for both eTPT and iTPT (ICC > 0.9).
• Study supports intraoperative use of TPT to identify cases needing additional rotational stabilization.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Normative ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI T2* values were established for:
  • Patellar ligament (PL): T2*L = 4.65 ms
  • Cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL): T2*L = 5.99 ms
  • Caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL): T2*L = 7.06 ms
• Statistically significant differences in T2*L values were found between:
  • PL vs. CrCL (p = 0.03)
  • PL vs. CdCL (p = 0.0097)
  • CrCL vs. CdCL (p = 0.03)
• No significant differences in short T2* (T2*S) values across ligaments.
• Study highlights potential of UTE MRI to detect early ligament changes even without physical instability.
• May guide early diagnosis in partial CrCL rupture where standard MRI is limited.

🔍 Key Findings

• Overall survival to discharge: 107 of 132 dogs (81%)
• Quartile improvement: Survival increased steadily from 67% in Q1 to 91% in Q4
  • Q1: 22/33 survived
  • Q2: 27/33
  • Q3: 28/33
  • Q4: 30/33
• Statistical significance: Higher operative rank significantly associated with improved survival (p < .05)
• Median cross clamp time (XCT): 73 min (range 40–165), but increased again in Q4
• Fatalities (n=25) were often due to:
  • Failure to wean from CPB
  • Intracranial vascular events (stroke)
  • Intrathoracic hemorrhage
• Breed representation: CKCS (23.5%), Chihuahua (22%), Crossbreeds (21%)
• Stages of MMVD: Stage C (67%), Stage D (27%), Stage B2 (6%)
• Emphasis on deliberate multidisciplinary teamwork for outcome improvement
• Highlights importance of technical and non-technical team skills, procedural standardization, and consistent personnel

🔍 Key Findings

• Two-pin fixation had significantly greater strength (639 N) than single-pin fixation (426 N) in TTAF models (p = .003).
• Stiffness was also higher with two-pin constructs (72 N/mm vs 57 N/mm); statistically significant (p = .029).
• Both fixation types withstood loads greater than quadriceps force in dogs at a walk (240 N), indicating clinical viability.
• Failure was most commonly due to pin bending or pullout (82%), with fewer cases of ligament tearing or epiphyseal fracture.
• K-wire insertion angle (KWIA) did not significantly differ between fixation types (p = .13).
• Single larger pins delivered ~68% of the strength and ~83% of the stiffness of two smaller vertically aligned pins.
• Clinical implication: Two vertically aligned pins are biomechanically superior for TTAF fixation in canine models.
• Study used mature cadavers, which may underestimate loads and stiffness compared to immature clinical cases.

🔍 Key Findings

Increased risk with gonadectomy:

• Pooled OR for CrCLD:
  • Females: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)
  • Males: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.67–2.69)

Early gonadectomy (≤1 year) further increased risk:

• OR vs >1 year:
  • Females: 3.39
  • Males: 3.13

Late gonadectomy (>1 year) had no significant difference vs intact dogs.

Breed-specific findings:

• Female Labradors: No increased CrCLD risk from gonadectomy (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.54–2.64)
• Male Labradors: Increased risk persisted (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.53–2.98)

Study type: Systematic review + meta-analysis of 24 observational studies (n = 1.85 million dogs)