🔍 Key Findings

• Combined intramedullary (IM) pin and rhBMP-2 use resulted in a low complication rate (7.4%) after proximal ulnar osteotomy (PUO).
• Major complications occurred in 5.3% of cases (4 infections, 1 pin breakage with ulnar tilt requiring revision).
• Minor complications occurred in 2.1% of cases (seroma, delayed union).
• No cases of non-union were observed; 98.9% of limbs achieved radiographic healing by 6 weeks.
• IM pin breakage was noted in 11.8% of limbs but did not affect healing outcomes.
• Chondrodystrophic breeds made up 64.8% of the cohort and tolerated the procedure well.
• Compared to prior studies, complication rates were substantially reduced with this technique (prior major: 13.9%; this study: 5.3%).
• The use of rhBMP-2 likely enhanced early bone healing and provided biologic support, particularly important in breeds at higher risk of complications.

🔍 Key Findings

• 12-hole LCPs (80% plate–bone ratio) showed significantly higher construct stiffness than 6-, 8-, or 10-hole plates in both compression and tension bending.
• Strain on the plate was significantly lower in 12-hole vs 6-hole plates at all regions of interest (ROIs), especially around the fracture gap.
• No incremental increases in stiffness or decreases in strain were observed between 6-, 8-, and 10-hole plates—only when comparing to 12-hole plates.
• Bone model strain adjacent to the plate end was significantly lower for 10- and 12-hole plates vs 6-hole plates under both loading conditions.
• The threshold effect suggests biomechanical benefits only emerge beyond a plate–bone ratio of ~80%.
• Working length increased from 9.4 mm (6-hole) to 13 mm (others), potentially influencing strain/stiffness differences.
• Four-point bending was used, as it replicates the most biomechanically relevant force on plated long bones.
• Clinical implication: Longer plates may reduce plate strain and peri-implant bone strain, potentially lowering risk of fatigue failure or stress risers.

🔍 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

• Patients: 16 (11 dogs, 5 cats); 6.1% of canine and 23.8% of feline PL cases were traumatic.
• Most common luxation direction: Medial (81.3%).
• Surgery: All had capsular imbrication; 75% had fabello-patellar suture (FPS).
• Short-term results (13/16 cases):
  • 77% had no lameness by 2 months.
  • 85% had no PL recurrence.
  • 3 severe complications: capsulorrhaphy tear, FPS fabellar tear, septic arthritis.
• Long-term results (13/16 cases):
  • 85% lameness-free.
  • 77% full function; 23% acceptable.
  • 0 reluxations reported by owners.

🔍 Key Findings

Mortality rate: 36% (12/33)
Cholecystectomy performed: 94% of dogs (31/33)
New significant prognostic factors for survival:

• Hyperbilirubinemia (p = .049) — threshold = 60.5 μmol/L
• Use of vasopressors (p = .002)
• Renal dysfunction postoperatively (p = .008)
• Number of postoperative complications (p = .005)

Multivariate model: Total bilirubin and number of complications best predicted survival
Septic vs nonseptic effusion: No significant difference in survival
Diagnostic imaging: Ultrasound sensitivity for extrahepatic biliary rupture = 38%
Most cultured pathogen: E. coli (80% of septic cases)

🔍 Key Findings

• Extreme brachycephalic breeds (EBBs) presented more acutely and at younger ages, most often with neurological signs compared to other breeds.
• Preoperative signs such as facial nerve paresis, vestibular syndrome, and Horner’s syndrome were significantly more common in EBBs.
• EBBs showed more severe imaging findings, including higher rates of otitis interna (46.3% vs. 8.5%) and brainstem changes (17.5% vs. 3%).
• Intraoperative complications were more frequent in EBBs (11.1% vs. 5.3%), but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = .078).
• Perioperative complication rates did not differ significantly between EBBs and other breeds (23.5% vs. 29.3%).
• Surgical time was significantly longer in EBBs (median 115 vs. 95 minutes; p = .011).
• MRI or combined CT/MRI were more frequently used in EBBs, likely due to the higher prevalence of neurological signs.
• Despite anatomical challenges, complication rates in EBBs were comparable, supporting TECA-LBO safety in these breeds.

🔍 Key Findings

• PCCLm resulted in significantly fewer postoperative lower urinary tract signs compared to OC (13.0% vs 60.9%, p <.001).
• Incomplete urolith removal was not significantly different between PCCLm and OC (11.4% vs 20%, p = .112).
• PCCLm had significantly shorter anesthesia times than OC when no concurrent procedures were performed (97.5 vs 120 min, p < .001).
• Surgical site infection/inflammation (SSII) rates were low and not significantly different between groups (4.5% PCCLm vs 1.8% OC).
• Dogs undergoing PCCLm were more frequently discharged same-day (84.7% vs 0% in OC), reflecting faster recovery.
• PCCLm had higher intraoperative complication rates (22.1% vs 3.4%), mostly due to incision extension or conversions.
• Time to additional surgery for urolith recurrence was longer in PCCLm dogs (24 vs 11.5 months, p = .004).
• Calcium oxalate uroliths were more prevalent in PCCLm cases, while OC had more struvite or mixed types.

🔍 Key Findings

• Spacer pin fixation showed no difference in failure force or stiffness compared to tension band wire (TBW) or 2-pin techniques.
• All constructs failed under loads >1000 N, exceeding estimated peak quadriceps force in dogs during walking (~240 N).
• Patellar ligament failure was the most common mode of failure across all groups (5–8 samples per group).
• Distal tibial crest fractures were seen only in 2-pin and spacer pin groups, not in TBW group, suggesting TBW may protect against crest failure.
• No failures occurred at pin tracts, possibly due to pin placement within patellar ligament footprint.
• Spacer pin technique avoids placing pins through the tuberosity, potentially reducing risks of soft tissue complications like tendinopathy or irritation.
• Use of partial osteotomy with robust distal crest may substitute for TBW without compromising initial mechanical strength.
• Further in vivo or cyclic loading studies are required, as this cadaveric study tested only acute tensile failure.

🔍 Key Findings

• 2.4 mm LCP with a 1.6 mm IM pin had the highest axial stiffness and yield strength among the tested constructs.
• Axial stiffness was significantly higher in the 2.4 mm LCP + 1.6 mm IM pin group compared to 2.7 mm LCP alone (p = .013).
• No significant difference in torsional stiffness was found among groups.
• 2.4 mm LCP + 1.0 mm pin had the lowest stiffness and failure load, underperforming both other constructs.
• All constructs failed via valgus bending, consistent with clinical observations in feline tibial fractures.
• A 1.6 mm pin (~50% canal fill) resulted in superior construct performance vs. 1.0 mm (~30% fill).
• Group 2 (2.4 LCP + 1.6 mm pin) outperformed the 2.7 mm LCP alone in stiffness, despite using a smaller plate.
• Plate–rod constructs may better preserve periosteal blood supply and support minimally invasive stabilization strategies.

🔍 Key Findings

• Modified subdural shunt (SDS) placement was adapted from prior techniques using a hemilaminectomy approach and no suturing of the dura or shunt.
• Dogs receiving SDS had significantly better long-term outcomes (85.7% improved) compared to those with durotomy alone (41.7%).
• Recurrence rate was lower in the SDS group (14.3%) than control (41.7%), though not statistically significant.
• Most recurrences occurred in Pugs (5/7), suggesting a breed predisposition.
• Shunt size was limited to 25% of spinal cord diameter, typically 3–3.5 Fr.
• CSF flow through the shunt was confirmed intraoperatively, supporting the role of SDS in maintaining flow and possibly preventing recurrence.
• Immediate postoperative outcomes were not different between groups (≈42% deteriorated), but long-term recovery was better with SDS.
• Steroid use pre-surgery did not correlate with improved outcome; fewer SDS dogs received steroids pre-op.