🔍 Key Findings

• Oxley's modified CCWO did not achieve the target TPA of 5° in most cases, even with planning.
• Mean planned TPA was 7.6°, higher than target, and consistent across dog sizes.
• Postoperative TPAs were significantly higher in small dogs (median 7°) than in large dogs (median 4.5°).
• Distalization >7.5 mm of the osteotomy from the patellar tendon led to increased under-correction of TPA.
• Only dogs with preoperative TPA >35° achieved post-planning TPAs close to the 5° target.
• Postoperative osteotomy positions were generally more distal than recommended (8.6 mm median).
• Virtual plate fit was appropriate for all dogs at 5 mm or 7.5 mm positions, suggesting no need for excessive distalization.
• Excessive correction leading to negative TPAs occurred in some cases, risking caudal cruciate ligament strain.

🔍 Key Findings

• Left fourth intercostal thoracotomy allowed successful thoracic duct (TD) ligation in 9/10 canine cadavers.
• 10/13 clinical cases had a single TD branch at the left fourth intercostal space, indicating lower anatomical complexity.
• All TD branches at this site were lateral to the esophagus, simplifying surgical access.
• Unilateral subphrenic pericardiectomy was successfully performed via the same incision in 10/10 cadavers.
• Fewer TD branches at the fourth intercostal space than traditional caudal sites may reduce the risk of missed collaterals.
• In contrast, traditional caudal TD ligation sites had up to 5 branches, requiring broader dissection.
• No cadaver had right-sided TD branches, reducing surgical complexity at the studied location.
• Contrast-confirmed ligation was effective in 90% (9/10) cadavers on CT imaging.

🔍 Key Findings

• Prophylactic fenestration (PF) significantly reduced recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion (0% vs. 37.8%, p < .001).
• Surgery time was longer with PF (median 182 vs. 110 min, p = .017), but no difference in perioperative complication rates (PF 16.7%, non-PF 18.9%; p = .838).
• 25% overall recurrence rate, but all recurrences occurred in the non-PF group.
• Medical management was effective in 92.9% of recurrence cases.
• Most PF sites targeted adjacent discs; 88.9% were at adjacent levels, which are common recurrence sites.
• Neurologic outcomes were similar between PF and non-PF dogs post-surgery and at follow-up.
• Fenestration technique (blade vs. burr) not shown to affect outcome but contributed to extended surgical time.
• No major complications or deaths linked directly to PF in initial surgeries.

🔍 Key Findings

Sample: 21 cats (10 control, 11 affected); 14 normal limbs vs 18 with MPL (MPL II: 7, MPL III: 11).

Significantly different CT measurements in MPL vs control:

• aLDFA: MPL II > control and MPL III (p = 0.014)
• FTW: MPL III > control (p = 0.021)
• FTD: control > MPL II and III (p < 0.001)
• TTA: MPL II and III had increased external tibial torsion vs control (p < 0.001)
• fPL and PV: MPL III cats had longer and more voluminous patellae

No significant differences in AA, mMPTA, TTD, fPW, aPH.
Patella width exceeded trochlear width in all groups.
Authors suggest femoral and tibial angular correction may not be indicated in most feline MPL II–III cases.
Soft tissue techniques and trochleoplasty warrant further investigation.
CT method: Intraobserver ICC good in 64%, interobserver poor in 36% of metrics.

🔍 Key Findings

• CBLO was effective for stifle stabilization in skeletally immature dogs with CrCL injuries, avoiding disruption of proximal tibial growth plates.
• Radiographic union of the osteotomy occurred in a mean of 6 weeks (range: 4–8 weeks), indicating rapid bone healing.
• Full limb function was restored in all cases by long-term follow-up (mean 23 months), including dogs with initial complications.
• Two dogs developed 19° valgus deformities due to screw interference with the proximal tibial physis; both were corrected surgically with return to function.
• One dog developed 10° recurvatum due to over-rotation of the tibial plateau, but retained full function without revision.
• CCS (countersink compression screw) caused early apophyseal closure in older dogs but had no adverse clinical effects.
• In contrast, K-wire or plate-only fixation preserved open apophysis, suggesting implant choice may influence growth.
• No meniscal injuries were observed, and all CrCL injuries were managed arthroscopically — 6 complete, 6 partial, 4 avulsions.

🔍 Key Findings

• Fascial planes in dogs were consistently classifiable into four surgical types:
• Type I (discrete sheets), Type II (tightly adhered to thin muscle), Type III (tightly adhered to thick muscle), and Type IV (periosteum-associated).
• Two junction types were identified: Type A (easily elevated) and Type B (higher risk of disruption).
• Disruption-prone areas include the scapular spine (type IV fascia) and lateral thorax near the 13th rib, where rib resection may be needed to preserve margins.
• The latissimus dorsi transition zones and fascial areas near the thoracic inlet and scapulohumeral joint were prone to fascial thinning or disruption.
• Partial muscle resections or periosteal elevations may be required in areas with fragile fascia to maintain oncologic margins.
• Dorsal spinous processes (T6–L6) showed type IV fascia; however, osteotomy may be needed in some dogs for clear margins.
• Blended fascial transitions (e.g., rectus abdominis: type II cranially, type I caudally) necessitate intraoperative judgment on resection depth.
• Cutaneous trunci may suffice as a deep margin for small, low-grade tumors in well-muscled dogs, but not reliably for high-grade or larger masses.

🔍 Key Findings

• Population: 16 dogs (27 tibias), TPA >34°
• Techniques analyzed:
  • Group A: CBLO + CCWO
  • Group B: TPLO + CCWO
  • Group C: mCCWO
  • Group D: PTNWO
• Outcomes:
  • All groups achieved post-correction TPA < 14°.
  • Group A: Slight over-correction (mean TPA 10.47°); greatest mechanical axis shift.
  • Group B: Tibial shortening (~0.58%); least mechanical axis shift.
  • Group C: Lowest post-correction TPA (mean 4.76°); under-correction.
  • Group D: High accuracy, minimal shortening (mean 7.09° post).
• Statistical Significance:
  • Significant differences in tibial length change and mCrDTA (mechanical axis shift) between groups (p <.05).
  • TPA correction accuracy: Group A (1.02), B (0.95), C (0.89), D (0.98).

🔍 Key Findings

• Local recurrence occurred in 17.8% of dogs, and was associated with significantly decreased survival (551 vs 1722 days, p = .0038).
• Lymph node metastasis occurred in 26.7% of dogs and was significantly associated with shorter disease-free interval (194 vs not reached, p = .0012) and lower survival (551 vs 1722 days, p = .043).
• Mitotic index >7 was significantly associated with higher recurrence (80% vs 22.5%, p = .02), shorter DFI (139 vs not reached days, p < .001), and shorter survival (247 vs 1722 days, p = .05).
• Infiltrative growth pattern was associated with shorter DFI (268 vs 1864 days, p = .011), but not with survival or recurrence.
• Incomplete margins (≤1 mm) were not significantly associated with recurrence (p = .085), but did correlate with shorter DFI (p = .043).
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy was associated with shorter DFI and survival, likely due to selection bias for more aggressive disease.
• Tumor size >3 cm was associated with decreased survival (p = .031), but not with recurrence or DFI.
• Multinucleation and necrosis were not associated with prognosis outcomes.

🔍 Key Findings

• Owner-reported regurgitation improved after CMS, especially post-eating and during activity (P = .012 and P = .002)
• No significant improvement in VFSS measures of SHH or GER postoperatively (P > .05 for all comparisons)
• Laryngeal ventriculectomy and soft palate resection were performed in all dogs, alaplasty in 14/16
• Aspiration pneumonia occurred in 1 dog immediately post-op and resolved with treatment
• Post-op esophagoscopy results varied, with persistent esophagitis in some cases
• Clinical response was variable, with ~25–30% of dogs being “non-responders” based on owner scoring
• 13/16 dogs showed partial or full clinical improvement, despite no change in objective SHH/GER indicators
• Final follow-up at median 36.5 months showed some dogs still on medical therapy; one underwent further surgery

🔍 Key Findings

• Use of smoke evacuators reduced ultrafine particle concentrations by 56.4% during approach to the proximal tibia for TPLO in dogs.
• Mean intraoperative particle concentrations were significantly higher in surgeries without smoke evacuation (1352 ppc vs. 763 ppc, P < .0001).
• Maximum particle concentrations were six times higher without smoke evacuation (62,450 ppc vs. 10,100 ppc, P < .0001).
• Particle counts increased above baseline regardless of evacuator use, confirming electrosurgery contributes substantially to airborne particles.
• Surgeons noted reduced odor and health concerns when using the smoke evacuator, despite initial visibility limitations due to pencil attachment.
• Standard surgical masks do not protect against ultrafine particles, underscoring the importance of smoke mitigation systems.
• The smoke-evacuation unit did not eliminate all ultrafine particles, suggesting optimization (e.g., higher power setting) may be beneficial.
• This is the first clinical veterinary study to measure surgical smoke reduction using evacuators during TPLO.