🔍 Key Findings

Design: Ex vivo cadaver study (n=8 dogs, 24 sites)
Comparison: Freehand vs. 3D-printed drill guide-assisted ventral slot (GAVS vs FHVS)
Findings:

• GAVS produced slots not significantly different from planned dimensions (p = .722–.875)
• FHVS produced significantly shorter slots than intended (p < .01)
• No difference in surgical time (p = .071)
• Shape ratio and slot divergence from midline were similar between groups (p > .4)
• Use of guide significantly reduced variability in slot position (63% → 29%), shape (65% → 24%), and divergence (54% → 50%)

Conclusion: 3D-printed guides improved accuracy and consistency of ventral slot creation by novice surgeons; supports future evaluation in live dogs and small breeds

🔍 Key Findings

• Objective: To evaluate outcomes and complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for idiopathic chylothorax in 15 cats.
• All 15 cats underwent thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation (TDL); 13 also had simultaneous pericardectomy, 2 had VATS TDL + laparoscopic cisterna chyli ablation (CCA), and 1 cat had an open CCA.
• Median surgical time was 152.5 minutes (range 60–255).
• Contrast was used intraoperatively in 13 cats; 11 received methylene blue, and 2 received indocyanine green (ICG).
• One intraoperative complication (6%) occurred — a minor intercostal artery laceration. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 3 cases (20%) due to visualization issues or bleeding.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 8 cats (53%), with persistent pleural effusion in 5 cats (33%) being the most common.
• Mortality was high: 4 cats (27%) died or were euthanized before discharge. Only 7 of 11 cats discharged had resolution of effusion, and recurrence occurred in 1.
• Authors concluded that while VATS is technically feasible in cats, it did not improve clinical outcomes compared to open surgery, and feline idiopathic chylothorax continues to have a high mortality rate.

🔍 Key Findings

• Liver lobectomy was the most common treatment (27/36 dogs), with multiple lobes removed in ~1/3 of cases.
• Septic peritonitis was present in 21/23 sampled dogs, making it a frequent complication.
• Perioperative complications occurred in 21/36 dogs, including aspiration pneumonia, pancreatitis, and acute kidney injury.
• Intraoperative hypotension was common (32/36), often requiring vasopressors or colloids.
• Mortality prior to discharge was 21% (8/38), with deaths related to sepsis, aspiration pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction.
• Median survival time was 638 days in dogs surviving to discharge.
• No recurrence of hepatic abscessation was observed in the surviving population.
• E. coli and Clostridium spp. were the most commonly cultured organisms, often as single-agent infections.

🔍 Key Findings

• Precontoured plates using 3D-printed femoral models achieved near-anatomic alignment in all cadaver limbs.
• Fracture reduction system (FRS) required significantly fewer fluoroscopy images than intramedullary pin (IMP) methods (7 vs 26, P = .001).
• Despite longer surgical time (43 vs 29 minutes, P = .011), FRS showed equally accurate or better alignment compared to IMP.
• Femoral length, frontal, sagittal, and axial alignment were all within near-anatomic thresholds (<10 mm or <5° deviation) in both groups.
• FRS was associated with more consistent length maintenance, with IMP showing a median shortening of 2.3 mm (P = .03).
• Axial plane deviation was statistically different in the FRS group (P = .04), but still clinically acceptable.
• Study highlights potential for custom 3D-printed guides to reduce radiation exposure and improve precision in MIPO procedures.
• Authors caution that FRS was time-consuming and cumbersome, suggesting design refinements needed for clinical use.

🔍 Key Findings

• Survival rates did not differ between immediate (90 min) and delayed (≥5 h) surgical stabilization groups at discharge or 1-month post-op (approx. 80% survival in both).
• Hyperlactatemia at 24 hours post-fluid therapy was significantly associated with in-hospital and 1-month mortality (P = .01 and P = .02).
• Persistent tachycardia during hospitalization was linked to increased 1-month mortality (P = .015).
• Partial gastrectomy was required in ~6–10% of cases, with high associated mortality.
• Preoperative stabilization protocols (trocarization, nasogastric tube) allowed safe surgical delays up to 13.7 hours without impacting survival.
• Degree of gastric torsion differed between groups; more 0° torsions in delayed cases, potentially due to decompression-induced derotation.
• No difference in post-op complications such as arrhythmias, hypotension, or AKI between groups.
• More intra-anesthetic deaths occurred in immediate surgery group, highlighting importance of adequate pre-op stabilization.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Primary 3.5-mm LCP used with short (SWL), medium (MWL), and long (LWL) working lengths
• Addition of orthogonal 2.7-mm LCP resulted in:
  • Significantly higher bending stiffness for SWL, MWL, and LWL (p < 0.0001)
  • Higher torsional stiffness for MWL and LWL (not for SWL)
  • Significantly lower strain across all working lengths in bending (p < 0.01)
• Working length inversely related to construct stiffness and directly to plate strain
• Orthogonal plates eliminated stiffness differences across working lengths in bending
• Suggests orthogonal plates can improve implant fatigue life and allow compensation when short working lengths are unachievable

🔍 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

• 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.

🔍 Key Findings

Design: In vitro study on cadaveric femurs (n=21) with basilar femoral neck fractures stabilized using 2 vs 3 titanium cannulated screws.

Stiffness: Control > 3-screw > 2-screw (674 > 120 > 90 N/mm).

Yield Load: 3-screw (586 N) > 2-screw (303 N); both < intact femur (2692 N).

Displacement: No difference across groups.

Complication: 3-screw technique more demanding; higher risk of cortical perforation, especially with narrow femoral necks.

Failure Mode: Dislodgement of femoral head + screw shaft bending.

Conclusion: 3 screws = stronger construct than 2 screws. Clinical implications need further study.