🔍 Key Findings

• Modified Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication improved vomiting/regurgitation scores by 180%, QoL by 100%, and owner-perceived body weight by 63% (P < .05).
• 6 of 9 dogs with postoperative VFSS showed objective improvement in gastric filling scores; others remained stable.
• Oral sildenafil was discontinued postoperatively in all dogs, indicating surgical success comparable to medical management.
• 12 of 13 dogs survived to discharge; one dog was euthanized due to aspiration pneumonia postoperatively.
• 50% of dogs experienced gastrostomy tube complications, higher than reported in previous literature.
• Most complications were gastrostomy-tube related, with some requiring surgical correction (e.g., tube migration, leakage).
• Feeding strategies (Bailey chair, elevated bowls) and food consistency (gruel/liquid) remained essential postoperatively to control regurgitation.
• 9 of 11 owners would opt for the surgery again; those who wouldn’t cited risk or lack of efficacy.

🔍 Key Findings

• Quadriceps muscle length/femoral length ratio (QML/FL) was significantly lower in dogs with grade IV MPL than grades I–III (p ≤ .002).
• Shortened QML was associated with increased femoral torsion angle (FTA) and increased aLDFA, indicating correlation with femoral deformity.
• QML/FL increased with age, possibly due to muscular development or reduced deformity in older dogs (p = .004).
• Grade IV MPL dogs had QML/FL < 0.87, the lower normal limit based on healthy beagles, suggesting clinically significant muscle shortening.
• PLL/PL ratio (used to diagnose patella alta) was not associated with QML/FL or MPL severity in small breeds.
• QML/FL can help preoperatively identify candidates for femoral shortening ostectomy, improving femoropatellar alignment.
• Multivariate regression model confirmed QML/FL is independently influenced by age, FTA, and aLDFA (R² = 0.45).
• CT-based 3D measurements enabled objective, noninvasive quantification of femoral and muscle alignment parameters.

🔍 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

• 20 dogs (26 shoulders) evaluated at mean 3.5 years post-surgery after arthroscopic or open debridement.
• Ipsilateral muscle atrophy and decreased range of motion (↓ extension, ↓ flexion) in affected limbs compared to contralateral healthy shoulders.
• All treated shoulders developed osteoarthritis, confirmed radiographically, by CT, and arthroscopically.
• Moderate to severe synovitis was present in all shoulders; lesions showed patchy, incomplete cartilage infilling even up to 8.9 years post-op.
• Kinetic gait analysis showed no significant differences in PVF/VI between affected and unaffected limbs, despite mild lameness clinically.
• Owners reported good to very good mobility (median LOAD = 6), often underestimating clinical lameness.
• CT detected larger lesion dimensions than radiographs (wider, deeper defects).
• Despite progression of OA, surgical debridement was associated with satisfactory long-term function, though not prevention of degenerative changes.

🔍 Key Findings

• Tracheal anastomoses in immature dogs failed at significantly lower distraction forces (44.91 ± 59.03 N) than in adults (149.31 ± 45.36 N; _P_ = .007).
• Immature tracheae tolerated significantly more elongation before failure (39.75 ± 5.45%) than adult tracheae (30.57 ± 7.19%; _P_ = .0012).
• All constructs failed by suture tearing through the annular ligament, primarily near the dorsal tracheal ring.
• Overlapping of tracheal ends was seen in 50% of specimens across both age groups, suggesting limitations in tissue apposition with the chosen technique.
• Simple continuous pattern using 2-0 polypropylene was used; this pattern provides superior tensile strength compared to simple interrupted, but apposition may be suboptimal.
• Tracheal elasticity in immature dogs may allow longer resections, but the lower tensile strength necessitates reinforcement.
• Annular ligament-cartilage technique with 4-mm suture spacing showed variable results; smaller bites and nylon suture may improve outcomes.
• Ex vivo setup using frozen-thawed tracheae is a limitation, but prior studies support comparability with fresh tissue.

🔍 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)

🔍 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

• 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

• Multidetector CTA had high sensitivity (up to 100%) and specificity (up to 96%) for detecting medial meniscal tears in dogs.
• Observer experience significantly influenced diagnostic accuracy, with more experienced observers showing higher agreement and better performance.
• Training effect was evident, as less experienced observers improved between first and second readings.
• Positive likelihood ratios ≥4.6 and negative likelihood ratios ≤0.08 were observed, suggesting CTA is clinically useful for confirming or ruling out meniscal injury.
• CTA allowed identification of full and partial thickness lesions, with good visualization in sagittal, transverse, and frontal reconstructions.
• Approximately 90% of menisci were correctly classified in second readings.
• No adverse reactions were noted from the contrast injection; sedation was used instead of general anesthesia.
• CTA was less invasive and potentially more cost-effective compared to arthroscopy, especially in settings without MRI access.

🔍 Key Findings

• FGPP (fluoroscopic-guided percutaneous pinning) resulted in successful healing in 10/13 fractures, with good limb function.
• Complications occurred in 5 of 11 cases, including intra-articular implants, malunion, implant failure/nonunion, and implant migration.
• Cases with delayed surgery (>15 days) or radiographic remodeling were more likely to experience major complications.
• Most fractures (10/13) were classified as Salter-Harris type I with mild displacement.
• Median surgical time was 60 minutes, and no conversions to open surgery were needed.
• Postoperative femoral neck resorption was minimal, suggesting possible benefits of the minimally invasive approach for preserving vascular supply.
• One intra-articular pin led to progressive joint disease and required femoral head ostectomy.
• FGPP appears best suited for acute, minimally displaced fractures in young dogs (<8 months) with planned elective explant to avoid growth disturbance.