
Your Custom Quiz
In Karydas 2025 et al., on follow-up radiography, what is the recommended role of follow-up imaging in the absence of clinical signs?
🔍 Key Findings
139 immature dogs with humeral condylar fractures (HCF) reviewed retrospectively.
Postoperative plan changed in 17% (23/139) of cases.
Key risk factors for plan change:
- Owner concerns (OR: 7.6)
- Analgesic use at follow-up (OR: 7.9)
- Lameness (OR: 5.9)
- Abnormal clinical exam (OR: 44.8)
- Radiographic abnormalities (OR: 51.9)
No plan changes were based solely on radiographs when clinical signs were absent.
Supracondylar K-wire migration noted in 3.5% of dogs without affecting the clinical plan.
Authors conclude that routine follow-up radiographs offer limited value without concurrent clinical indicators.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2025
Impact of postoperative radiography on the management of humeral condylar fractures in immature dogs
2025-2-VS-karydas-5
In Stoneburner 2024 et al., on MIS survey results, which factor was most strongly associated with increased MIS proficiency?
🔍 Key Findings
- The survey included 111 practicing surgeons and 28 residents from ACVS, ECVS, and ANZCVS. 98.2% had performed soft tissue minimally invasive surgery (MIS).
- In the past year, surgeons reported a median caseload of 90% basic laparoscopy, 0% advanced laparoscopy, and 10% thoracoscopy; for residents: 100% basic laparoscopy, 0% advanced, 0% thoracoscopy.
- Laparoscopic ovariectomy and OHE were the most commonly performed MIS procedures, with most respondents proficient in basic laparoscopy, but few performing advanced laparoscopy or thoracoscopy.
- Top barriers to MIS adoption were: lack of consistent caseload, lack of training, difficult learning curve, equipment limitations, and cost.
- 76.6% of surgeons and 92.9% of residents received MIS training during residency. Those trained had completed residency median 6 years ago, compared to 22 years ago for those without MIS training (p < .001). Perceived adequate training correlated with higher proficiency.
- MIS was recognized as having a steep learning curve, but patient benefits (mean score 4.0/5) were the top motivation — less pain, faster recovery, improved visualization.
- The authors conclude basic laparoscopy is widely adopted, but advanced and thoracoscopic MIS remain underutilized. Training and access are key to future growth.
- Expanded training and improved access to equipment are necessary to promote broader integration of MIS into veterinary soft-tissue surgery.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2024
Laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in small animal surgery: A 2020 survey of small animal surgical diplomates and residents
2024-5-VS-stoneburner-3
In Nicetto 2024 et al., what was the most common complication after TRP implantation?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- 48 dogs (60 stifles) underwent custom 3D-printed TRP implantation for patellar luxation
- 24 treated with TRP alone; 36 with additional procedures (e.g., DFO, TTT)
- Success rate: 59/60 corrected patellar tracking
- Functional outcome: 57/60 full function, 2 acceptable, 1 unacceptable
- Complication rate: 3 total (2 minor, 1 major recurrence)
- TRP spares cartilage unlike trochleoplasty, offering implant-based ridge augmentation
- No implant loosening or infection observed
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
2
2024
Trochlear Ridge Prostheses for Reshaping Femoral Trochlear Ridges in Dogs with Patellar Luxation
2024-2-VCOT-nicetto-2
In Tobias 2025 et al., on frontal sinus mucoceles, which imaging finding was most consistently reported across all dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Frontal sinus mucoceles occurred in young dogs, often linked to prior skull trauma by 10 months of age.
- All dogs presented with expansile, fluid-filled lesions causing facial swelling; CT showed multicentric bone erosion, including the frontal bone and cribriform plate.
- Surgical options included frontal sinusotomy with either sinus lining ablation or re-establishment of nasofrontal drainage, with or without stenting.
- Nasofrontal stenting led to long-term resolution in most dogs, although recurrence occurred in 4/8 dogs, requiring revision surgery in 3.
- Complications were minor and included swelling or nasal discharge; no intraoperative complications were reported.
- Histology confirmed sterile mucoceles with neutrophilic inflammation and mucin, and cultures were negative in all cases.
- Guaifenesin was used postoperatively in several cases to reduce mucus viscosity; its benefit is unproven in dogs but may support drainage.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Clinical findings and outcomes of eight dogs with surgically treated frontal sinus mucoceles
2025-6-VS-tobias-2
In Mazdarani 2022 et al., on CBLO and stifle biomechanics, which statement best describes the **patellar ligament angle (PTA)** after CBLO?
🔍 Key Findings
- CBLO reduced tibial plateau angle (TPA) from a mean of 28.1° to 9.7°, aligning with its goal of flattening the tibial slope.
- CBLO eliminated cranial tibial translation (CTT) following CCL transection and meniscal release at all angles except 140° without hamstring load.
- Hamstring loading (20% quadriceps load) significantly reduced or delayed the onset of CTT, improving stifle stability.
- Medial meniscus was confirmed as a secondary stabilizer; its release (MMR) caused more CTT than CCLx alone.
- PTA (patellar tendon angle) increased with joint extension; CBLO shifted the PTA curve lower and parallel to intact values, suggesting effective flexion of the joint.
- Combined CBLO and hamstring loading resulted in the most stable joints, especially from 50° to 135° joint angles.
- Residual CTT occurred in CBLO-only limbs at higher extension angles (e.g., 140°), but hamstring load mitigated this.
- Stifle stability post-CBLO is multifactorial, depending on joint angle, meniscal integrity, and hamstring activation.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2022
Effect of center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy on ex vivo stifle joint stability following cranial cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscal release with and without a hamstring load
2022-6-VS-mazdarani-5
In Dobberstein 2022 et al., on NSAID ulcer repair, what was the most commonly used surgical closure technique for ulcer repair?
🔍 Key Findings
- Primary repair of NSAID-associated full-thickness gastroduodenal ulcers was successful in 73% (8/11) of cases.
- NSAID overdose, concurrent corticosteroid use, or extended duration were identified in 9/11 dogs and were major contributors to ulceration.
- All perforations were in the pylorus or proximal duodenum, locations suitable for primary closure.
- No significant association between ulcer size or location and postoperative survival.
- Preoperative hyperlactatemia trended toward increased mortality (P = .0544; OR 2.045).
- Postoperative vasopressor use was linked with a 9-fold increased risk of mortality (P = .0545).
- Dehiscence was rare, suspected in only 1 of 11 cases, indicating that primary repair is structurally sound in selected cases.
- Median follow-up of 444 days showed long-term survival was achievable post-primary repair.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2022
Primary repair of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug‐associated full thickness gastrointestinal ulcers in 11 dogs
2022-7-VS-dobberstein-4
In Vannini 2026 et al., on gastrocnemius tendinopathy, which finding did the authors consider the most reliable clinical indicator of clinically significant TGMO?
🔍 Key Findings
- TGMO was common despite absence of overt lameness, with 18/34 dogs showing abnormal clinical examination findings.
- Ultrasonographic abnormalities were highly prevalent, with only 5/34 dogs classified as bilaterally normal and 29/34 showing mild or moderate lesions.
- Only four dogs had normal clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic findings, supporting a high prevalence of subclinical pathology.
- Pain on palpation over the fabella was considered the most clinically meaningful indicator of TGMO, whereas imaging abnormalities alone did not reliably indicate clinical disease.
- Gait analysis was sensitive but nonspecific, with asymmetry detected in 17 dogs, including some with otherwise normal findings.
- Radiographic mineralization or enthesiophytes were identified in 7/34 dogs (~20%), indicating chronic tendon pathology but not necessarily clinical symptoms.
- Moderate ultrasonographic lesions were present in 10 dogs, often associated with irregular supracondylar bone contours and occasionally pain or gait abnormalities.
- TGMO appears substantially underrecognized in agility Border Collies, supporting routine clinical and imaging assessment when hindlimb performance issues occur.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2026
Prevalence of Tendinopathy of the Gastrocnemius Muscle Origin in a Cohort of Sound Border Collies
2026-3-vcot-vannini-2
In Foster 2026 et al., on right hepatic lobectomy, which factor was significantly associated with increased short-term postoperative complications?
🔍 Key Findings
- Perioperative mortality rate was low (2.9%), with no intraoperative deaths reported.
- Intraoperative complications occurred in 54.3% of dogs, most commonly hemorrhage and cardiovascular events.
- 21% of dogs required blood transfusions, though transfusion was not associated with higher complication risk.
- Advanced hemodynamic support (fluid + cardiovascular) was significantly associated with short-term complications (OR 17.3, p = .029) and shorter survival.
- No surgical method (e.g., TA stapler, vessel sealing device, hilar resection) was associated with increased risk of complications.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was the most common diagnosis (53%), with an MST of 741 days and 17.6% recurrence.
- Surgical margins (complete vs incomplete) were not associated with overall survival time in dogs with HCC.
- The use of preoperative CT and improved surgical instrumentation may have contributed to the lower observed mortality.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2026
Outcomes and prognostic variables associated with right divisional hepatic lobectomies in 70 dogs
2026-1-vs-foster-2
In McClean 2025 et al., on shoulder arthrocentesis techniques, which technique showed a significantly lower rate of iatrogenic cartilage injury?
🔍 Key Findings
- Study Type: Cadaveric study using 36 paired canine shoulders (n = 18 per group: Subacromial [SA] and Supratubercular [ST])
- Survey Results: 75% of clinicians preferred SA technique; 25% used ST
- Complete accuracy: 50% (SA), 44% (ST) — no significant difference (p = .8)
- Partial accuracy: 39% (SA), 50% (ST)
- Complete miss: 11% (SA), 5.6% (ST)
- Incidence of IACI:
- SA: 50% (9/18 shoulders)
- ST: 11% (2/18 shoulders) → statistically significant (p = .007)
- Lesion depth: All ST lesions were partial-thickness; SA group had one full-thickness lesion (p = .027)
- Location: Lesions found on glenoid and humeral head with even distribution in SA; only one each in ST
- Landmark-guided injections were ≤50% completely accurate, even by an experienced operator.
- ST technique is safer with lower risk of cartilage damage, despite similar accuracy.
- Findings support considering image-guided techniques to improve both safety and accuracy in clinical settings.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2025
Accuracy and safety of two landmark‐guided techniques for arthrocentesis and intra‐articular injection of the shoulder in dogs
2025-4-VS-mcclean-2
In Heikkilä 2024 et al., on COPLA scaffold evaluation, which adverse event was observed in the COPLA group?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- 22 dogs (36 shoulders) with shoulder OCD randomly assigned to COPLA scaffold (n=19) or Control (n=17) group
- At 6 months: Significantly fewer dogs in COPLA group had OA (14% vs. 67%; p = 0.019)
- At 1.5 years: OA prevalence increased in both groups with no significant difference (COPLA: 64%, Control: 60%)
- HCPI (pain index) increased significantly at 1 week post-op in COPLA dogs only (p = 0.001), but later normalized
- Static weight-bearing improved only in unilaterally operated COPLA limbs (p = 0.015)
- One dog in COPLA group had a fragment dislodge requiring arthroscopic removal
- Overall, COPLA scaffold may provide short-term benefit in OA reduction, but long-term outcomes were similar
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
6
2024
Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial of Polylactide–Collagen Scaffold in Treatment of Shoulder Osteochondritis Dissecans in Dogs
2024-6-VCOT-heikkila-4
Quiz Results
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Key Findings
