🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D-printed drill guides (3D-GDT) significantly reduced craniocaudal and dorsoventral drilling angle deviation compared to free-hand drilling technique (FHDT), with statistical significance (p < .0001 and p = .01 respectively).
• No sacral corridor breaches occurred with 3D-GDT, whereas FHDT resulted in 20% drill exit incidences (3/15 cases).
• 3D-GDT had lower deviation from optimal drill trajectory at end points in all axes: craniocaudal (1.84 ± 1.6 mm vs. 4.18 ± 2.4 mm), dorsoventral (1.11 ± 1.0 mm vs. 2.4 ± 1.5 mm), and 3D linear (2.47 ± 1.4 mm vs. 5.35 ± 2.2 mm), all statistically significant.
• Strong correlation (r = 0.77) between CT and 3D software measurements validated method reliability.
• 3D guide trajectories showed consistent proximity to the optimal trajectory, especially at drill endpoints, indicating reduced variability in execution.
• 3D-GDT was developed using open-source software and inexpensive materials, supporting future clinical application.
• Major errors in FHDT occurred primarily at the drill endpoint, underscoring the challenge of maintaining optimal angulation during free-hand drilling.
• The sacral corridor was recharacterized as pyramidal (not quadrilateral), with implications for safer implant placement.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• 86 elbows assessed: 32 Guide Dogs, 11 Border Collies
• Guide Dogs showed significantly higher HU values in:
  • MCP: min (p = 0.022), mean (p < 0.01), max (p < 0.01)
  • Humeral trochlea: mean (p < 0.01), max (p < 0.01)
• Results imply breed-associated HU variation, not necessarily pathologic sclerosis
• Relevance: Important to avoid false positives for elbow dysplasia during CT-based breeding screens
• Good interobserver agreement for mean HU values (ICC ~0.82–0.90)

🔍 Key Findings

Study population: 12 dogs with medial or lateral tarsocrural joint instability (TCI), including 5 working farm dogs.
Procedure: Temporary immobilization using a calcaneotibial screw (CTS) combined with external coaptation (EC).
Stabilization techniques:

• 3 dogs = primary ligamentous repair
• 8 dogs = synthetic ligament reconstruction
• 2 dogs = malleolar fracture repair

Follow-up: Median 31 months (range 4–66); 10 owners completed outcome survey.
Outcomes:

• All 10 dogs had improved or resolved lameness.
• All 5 farm dogs returned to work (most at full or substantial capacity).
• Complication rate: 4 distinct events in 3 dogs (1 major = CTS breakage; 3 minor = bandage-related soft tissue injuries).

Conclusion: CTS + EC provided effective immobilization with low complication rate, and functional outcomes were favorable even in active dogs.

🔍 Key Findings

• Open transcholecystic cholangioscopy was feasible using a 3.8 mm disposable flexible endoscope in all 8 canine cadavers.
• Visualization was consistently achieved up to the junction of the hepatic ducts, common bile duct, and cystic duct.
• Advancement past the junction was limited by the endoscope diameter (3.8 mm) and anatomical flexure.
• The 1.9 mm flexible ureteroscope could visualize the entire biliary tree, including the major duodenal papilla, in a large dog (43.8 kg).
• Endoscopic tools (e.g., 3 Fr grasping forceps) could be passed through the working channel only after removing the irrigation line.
• Standard biopsy forceps were incompatible with the disposable endoscope's 1.2 mm working channel.
• Cadaver study showed no rupture, but clinical extrapolation is limited due to lack of diseased tissue.
• Disposable endoscope setup cost (~$6,100) was significantly lower than traditional endoscopy systems (~$75,000–100,000), improving accessibility.

🔍 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

• Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) infiltration did not reduce the need for rescue analgesia compared with placebo in dogs undergoing TPLO.
• CMPS-SF pain scores were not significantly different between LB and placebo groups at any postoperative time point.
• % body weight distribution (%BWdist) to the operated limb did not differ significantly between treatment groups across all time points.
• No correlation was found between CMPS-SF scores and %BWdist, suggesting these metrics assess different aspects of postoperative pain.
• Postoperative carprofen administration was standardized, and LB did not provide additional detectable analgesic benefit.
• Three-layer infiltration technique (joint capsule, fascia, subcutis) was used consistently across all cases.
• Adverse events were minor and comparable between LB and placebo groups.
• Post hoc analysis suggested a much larger sample size (58–436 dogs) would be needed to detect significant differences in %BWdist.

🔍 Key Findings

• Limb-sparing surgery aims to preserve limb function after resection of diseased bone, most commonly for appendicular osteosarcoma but also for non-repairable fractures causing critical bone defects.
• Survival outcomes after limb-sparing can be comparable to limb amputation, providing an alternative for owners who decline amputation or for dogs poor candidates for amputation.
• Techniques fall into two main categories: reconstruction of the bone defect or procedures that avoid reconstruction, depending on tumor location and surgical strategy.
• Common reconstructive techniques include cortical allografts, endoprostheses, bone transport osteogenesis, vascular or non-vascular autografts, and tumor-treated autografts.
• Non-reconstruction procedures include partial scapulectomy, partial ulnectomy, or limb shortening, which preserve limb function without rebuilding the bone defect.
• Major contraindications include detectable metastatic disease and extensive soft tissue involvement, although criteria such as pathologic fracture remain controversial.
• Complications are common and include infection, biomechanical failure, and local tumor recurrence, often due to extensive surgery, implants, chemotherapy-associated immunosuppression, and limited soft tissue coverage.
• Technique selection depends on anatomical site, available equipment, surgeon expertise, and owner factors, and comparative outcome data for many techniques remain limited.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Sample: 124 dogs (64 S, 60 FFP); French Bulldogs most common (54/124)
• Pre-op clinical signs: Exercise intolerance (34/124), stertor (22), regurgitation (7), vomiting (12)
• Operative time (no concurrent procedure): Longer in FFP (75 vs 51 min, p = .02)
• Anesthetic time: Longer in FFP (111 vs 80 min, p = .02)
• Anesthetic complications: Similar rates (FFP 50, S 49; p = .30)
• Post-op regurgitation: 27/124 (S: 17, FFP: 10; p = .18)
• Post-op aspiration pneumonia: Rare (S: 4, FFP: 5)
• Major complications: Rare (5/124); 2 dogs euthanized post-op (1 per group)
• Revision surgery: Needed in 7/124 (3 S, 4 FFP)

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D-printed cannulas (3DPCs) reduced mean surgical time significantly in cadaveric procedures (125.6 vs 95.2 min, p = 0.03).
• Cannula pullout events decreased from a mean of 10 to 2.2 per procedure when using only 3DPCs (p = 0.03).
• Instrument collisions were significantly fewer with 3DPCs (6.8 vs 2.6 collisions, p = 0.03).
• Live patients experienced no postoperative complications, including no incision site infections or discomfort.
• Initial versions of 3DPCs had minor issues, including valve leakage and looser trocar fit, requiring surgical workarounds.
• Customization of cannula shaft length (3 cm vs standard 5–8.3 cm) improved working space and reduced instrument interference.
• Production cost was under $5 per cannula, suggesting 3DPCs may be a cost-effective and reusable alternative for small patients.
• Study supports broader use of 3DPCs in laparoscopic procedures requiring long-jawed instruments or intricate tissue handling.