🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Finite element analysis compared intact radii vs. locking plates placed 1 mm or 3 mm above the bone
• LP placement significantly reduced tensile (maximum principal) stress on cranial cortex, potentially causing implant-induced osteoporosis
• Shell element findings:
  • Max principal stress significantly lower in both LP groups vs. intact (p < 0.05)
• Solid element findings:
  • Equivalent stress higher and max principal stress lower in LP groups
• Implication: Tension reduction may impair bone remodeling; implant design and placement height affect stress environment

🔍 Key Findings

• Cook system had good reliability across all cases (ICC = 0.848), even when complications, sequelae, and failure-to-cure were included.
• aCD system had excellent reliability when excluding sequelae/failure-to-cure cases (ICC = 0.975) but only moderate reliability when including them (ICC = 0.620).
• Majority of complications (60–63%) were graded as Grade 3 in the aCD system, corresponding to surgical or anesthetic intervention.
• Cook system classified most cases (78–81%) as major complications.
• Assessors had difficulty distinguishing sequelae from Grade 1 complications, and failure-to-cure from Grades 1–2, reducing aCD reliability.
• The aCD system offers more resolution (5 grades vs. 3) and less subjectivity through objective definitions.
• Novel terminology (e.g., sequelae, failure to cure) in the aCD system may hinder its uptake without proper training.
• Reclassifying expected events (e.g., swelling, bruising) as sequelae could significantly reduce reported complication rates in other studies.

🔍 Key Findings

• Ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in 3% of pericardiectomy cases across reporting institutions.
• 14 of 16 dogs (88%) that developed intraoperative VF died, indicating high mortality.
• Electrosurgical devices were used in 15/16 dogs; VF onset coincided with their use in 8 dogs, suggesting a potential but unproven association.
• Preoperative arrhythmias were seen in 7 dogs (e.g., VPCs, VT, bradycardia), possibly serving as early warning signs.
• Thoracoscopic approach was used in 75% of cases; however, conversion to open surgery was required in 9/13 thoracoscopic procedures after VF onset.
• Defibrillation was attempted in 13 dogs, but only 3 converted to sinus rhythm, and only 2 survived postoperatively.
• VF may result from stray current or cardiac manipulation; bipolar energy devices were implicated despite lower theoretical risk.
• Preventative strategies include judicious electrosurgery use, close ECG monitoring, rapid CPR preparedness, and preop cardiac risk assessment.

🔍 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

• Fasting ammonia (FA) was the most specific test (100%) for confirming EHPSS closure postoperatively.
• Serum hyaluronic acid (SHA) and MEGX at 15 minutes post-lidocaine were the most sensitive tests (96.9% and 96.2%, respectively).
• SHA combined with MEGX T15, or with FA or postprandial serum bile acids (SBA), provided 100% sensitivity with good specificity (72.4–82.8%).
• SHA levels remained elevated in all dogs with persistent shunting, even when other tests were normal.
• Paired SBA had moderate sensitivity (90%) and variable specificity (89%).
• The L/MEGX test at 30 min was less useful than at 15 min for assessing closure.
• Traditional SBA testing showed reduced utility postoperatively; normal values did not rule out persistent shunting.
• Blood tests improved when combined, but imaging remains essential to definitively confirm EHPSS closure.

🔍 Key Findings

• CBLO fixation with both a headless compression screw (HCS) and tension band (TB) showed the highest yield and ultimate loads compared to other configurations
• HCSTB constructs had significantly higher yield load (1212 N) and ultimate load (1388 N) than Plate alone (788 N, 774 N), HCS alone (907 N, 927 N), or TB alone (1016 N, 1076 N)
• No difference in construct stiffness was detected among the four fixation methods tested
• All constructs ultimately failed by bone fracture—location of failure differed by construct type (e.g., through HCS hole or cranial screw hole)
• TB and HCSTB groups showed failure via progressive TB stretching and cranial osteotomy widening, while Plate and HCS failed more abruptly
• All constructs withstood forces exceeding expected quadriceps load in vivo (170–325 N), suggesting all methods can resist physiological loading, but HCSTB provides greater safety margin
• HCS alone was not significantly stronger than Plate or TB alone, questioning its standalone superiority
• Study supports using TB and HCS together for optimal construct strength, but clinical studies are needed to validate implant fatigue, healing, and failure rates

🔍 Key Findings

• Only 2 of 10 PET implants were fully intact and functional at 6 months post-op.
• Owner-reported function (LOAD scores) improved by 51.7% (p = .008) over 6 months.
• Gait asymmetry improved by 86% (p = .002) postoperatively.
• Implant failure occurred in the midbody of the PET device, suggesting fatigue as a failure mechanism.
• One dog (10%) developed implant infection, necessitating implant removal.
• Implant fixation method (screws + washers + interference screw) was mechanically adequate and technically simple.
• Partially intact implants (4/10) still showed improved clinical outcomes, despite structural compromise.
• Midbody tearing and lack of long-term integrity prohibit continued use of this PET implant in CCL repair.

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D-printed models using desktop printers (FDM, LFS) showed submillimetric accuracy, comparable to or better than industrial-grade PJP printers.
• Bone size had a greater effect on print accuracy than printer type, especially in proximal humerus regions.
• The humeral condyle region showed the greatest model accuracy, with mean differences under 0.5 mm, regardless of printer.
• Models tended to be slightly smaller than cadaveric bones, potentially due to systematic underestimation during printing.
• FDM printer provided the highest accuracy at the humeral condyle in medium-sized bones (+0.09 mm).
• LFS printer produced prints faster and more reliably than FDM, although both had comparable dimensional accuracy.
• Statistically significant differences existed, but all were submillimetric and unlikely to impact surgical outcomes.
• Desktop printers are suitable for surgical planning, including plate pre-contouring and patient-specific instrumentation.

🔍 Key Findings

• Locked facet injuries in dogs involved unilateral dorsal displacement of the cranial articular process of the caudal vertebra, most commonly at C5/6 or C6/7.
• All affected dogs were small/toy breeds, typically following trauma (most often attacks by larger dogs).
• Neurologic severity ranged from ambulatory tetraparesis to tetraplegia, often with thoracic limb deficits more severe than pelvic limbs — suggesting a central cord syndrome-like pattern.
• CT and MRI revealed axial rotation, subluxation, and articular process displacement; MRI showed T2 hyperintensity, nerve root impingement, and soft tissue changes.
• Surgical treatment included ventral fixation with screws, pins, and PMMA, and one case required dorsal facetectomy for reduction.
• Medical management, including external coaptation or rest, also resulted in functional recovery in select cases.
• All dogs with follow-up data (8/8) had functional recovery, with nonambulatory dogs regaining ambulation in a median of 4 weeks.
• No consistent differences in outcome were observed between surgical and nonsurgical management, suggesting locked facets may be biomechanically stable.

🔍 Key Findings

• Pre-ABHR hand preparation lowered CFUs at 120 minutes post-gloving compared to ABHR alone (P = .001)
• pH-neutral soap followed by ABHR outperformed ABHR alone despite being nonmedicated (P = .001)
• CHX and BAC prewashes showed better immediate CFU reduction post-preparation than pHN (P = .012)
• No significant difference in total log10 CFU reduction across all four groups over the full surgical period (P = .362)
• Glove perforation in the thumb was a significant contamination factor (P = .036)
• All dogs recovered without surgical site infections, though SSI incidence was not a primary outcome
• Neutralizer validation lacking, so CHX results interpreted cautiously
• Study supports a 1-minute hand wash with pH-neutral soap prior to ABHR as effective and safe