Your Custom Quiz
In Rocheleau 2024 et al., on arthroscopic meniscal suturing, what is a proposed benefit of meniscal preservation over meniscectomy?
🔍 Key Findings
- Arthroscopic meniscal suturing was performed in 43 client-owned dogs, involving 44 meniscal repairs (one dog was bilateral). All injuries involved the caudal horn of the medial meniscus and were associated with cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease.
- All dogs underwent simultaneous TPLO, with some also receiving an internal brace (IB). Most repairs used simple vertical mattress sutures.
- The overall complication rate was 34.1% (15/44). Most complications were attributed to the TPLO/TPLO+IB and did not compromise the meniscal repair outcome.
- No median time to “acceptable” or “full” function was reported, but most dogs showed improvement in lameness and LOAD scores (p < .001), indicating good to excellent outcomes.
- Meniscal repair success rate was 88% (38/44), with TPLO + IB outperforming TPLO-only (93.3% vs 71.4%). Follow-up was performed at 8 weeks (40 dogs) and 6 months (16 dogs).
- Six failures occurred, all managed with arthroscopic meniscectomy, leading to normal activity in those dogs. Two IB-associated failures led to CrCL instability.
- The authors concluded the technique was safe, practical, and effective, with a reasonable complication rate.
- The findings support arthroscopic suturing as a feasible alternative to meniscectomy or meniscal release, offering long-term benefits for preserving the meniscus.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2024
Short‐term outcomes of 43 dogs treated with arthroscopic suturing for meniscal tears
2024-5-VS-rocheleau-5
In O'Marra 2026 et al., on perioperative septic peritonitis, which of the following is a recommended strategy to mitigate intra-abdominal hypertension in at-risk veterinary patients?
🔍 Key Findings
- Early enteral nutrition (<24–48 hrs) is associated with improved survival and reduced hospitalization in dogs with septic peritonitis.
- Appropriate empirical antimicrobials improve survival in cats, but data are mixed in dogs.
- Recurrent septic peritonitis (RecSP) has poor survival (0%–43.9%); most common cause is gastrointestinal dehiscence.
- Intraoperative hypotension and preoperative hypoalbuminemia may increase dehiscence risk, though findings are inconsistent.
- Lidocaine CRI during surgery improves survival over opioids alone in dogs.
- Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is not recommended due to risks of coagulopathy and kidney injury; albumin use is controversial.
- Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is under-recognized but contributes to mortality; IAP monitoring should be considered.
- Diagnostic tests (effusion lactate, glucose, cytology) are unreliable for detecting RecSP; clinical judgment and ultrasound are advised.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2026
Perioperative management of septic peritonitis in small animals: A review
2026-1-VS-omarra-5
In Heikkilä 2024 et al., on COPLA scaffold evaluation, what was the significant imaging-based outcome at 6 months in the COPLA group?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- 22 dogs (36 shoulders) with shoulder OCD randomly assigned to COPLA scaffold (n=19) or Control (n=17) group
- At 6 months: Significantly fewer dogs in COPLA group had OA (14% vs. 67%; p = 0.019)
- At 1.5 years: OA prevalence increased in both groups with no significant difference (COPLA: 64%, Control: 60%)
- HCPI (pain index) increased significantly at 1 week post-op in COPLA dogs only (p = 0.001), but later normalized
- Static weight-bearing improved only in unilaterally operated COPLA limbs (p = 0.015)
- One dog in COPLA group had a fragment dislodge requiring arthroscopic removal
- Overall, COPLA scaffold may provide short-term benefit in OA reduction, but long-term outcomes were similar
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
6
2024
Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial of Polylactide–Collagen Scaffold in Treatment of Shoulder Osteochondritis Dissecans in Dogs
2024-6-VCOT-heikkila-1
In Beamon 2022 et al., on calcanean tunnel orientation, which construct demonstrated significantly higher yield load than modified tunnels?
🔍 Key Findings
- No significant difference in peak load, failure load, stiffness, or 3 mm gap formation among bone tunnel types.
- Transverse tunnel (TT) constructs had 25% higher yield load than modified tunnels (MT) (P = .027).
- Most common failure mode was suture pull-through (67%), with no significant difference between groups.
- Gap formation ≥3 mm occurred in ~90% of constructs; no significant difference in force needed for gap among groups.
- All bone tunnel techniques (TT, VT, MT) are viable options for CCT reattachment in dogs.
- The 3-loop pulley (3LP) pattern provided strong, uniform repair, with higher loads to failure than previously reported.
- TT constructs showed more tendon distortion at the repair interface during loading.
- Inclusion of accessory tendon may have improved repair strength compared to prior studies using GT alone.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2022
Effect of calcanean bone‐tunnel orientation for teno‐osseous repair in a canine common calcanean tendon avulsion model
2022-4-VS-beamon-1
In Monnet 2023 et al., on barbed vs conventional suture in vesicourethral anastomosis (VUA), how did the number of suture bites compare between the UBS and conventional groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- Leakage pressure was not significantly different between unidirectional barbed suture (UBS) and conventional (C) suture groups (p = .236).
- UBS group had a 28% lower median leakage pressure than the C group (8.6 mmHg vs. 11.7 mmHg), suggesting higher biological risk of leakage.
- UBS significantly reduced suturing time (median 12.7 vs. 17.3 minutes; p < .0002).
- Fewer suture bites were needed in the UBS group (median 14 vs. 19; p = .012).
- No suture breakage or urethral narrowing occurred in either group.
- Leakage site distribution (ventral vs lateral) was similar between groups; no dorsal leaks noted.
- Leakage occurred as low as 5 mmHg in UBS group, indicating potential for postoperative extravasation.
- UBS may aid intracorporeal suturing in minimally invasive prostatectomy, but catheterization remains necessary postoperatively.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
Influence of conventional versus unidirectional barbed suture on leakage pressures in canine vesicourethral anastomosis: An ex-vivo study
2023-5-VS-monnet-4
In Dalton 2023 et al., on acetabular fracture repair, what was the median postoperative fracture gap reported in canine cadavers?
🔍 Key Findings
- Minimally invasive repair of acetabular fractures using precontoured plates on 3D-printed models is feasible and technically reproducible in dogs.
- All cadavers had fracture gaps <2 mm and step defects <1 mm, indicating accurate reduction.
- Sciatic nerve injury was minimal or absent in all cases, supporting potential neuroprotection from indirect approaches.
- Pelvic angulation was maintained <5°, confirming preservation of alignment post-reduction.
- Surgical time averaged ~46 minutes in cadavers for both approaches and repair.
- Clinical case showed good radiographic healing by 8 weeks and full union by 3 months, with early weight-bearing post-op.
- Use of locking screws improved reduction fidelity, particularly across a broad plate span.
- 3D printing accelerated surgical planning, though its necessity remains debated due to the availability and cost concerns.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2023
Minimally invasive repair of acetabular fractures in dogs: Ex vivo feasibility study and case report
2023-6-VS-dalton-1
In Banks 2023 et al., on TECA-LBO in brachycephalic dogs, which neurologic sign was most significantly more common in extreme brachycephalic breeds (EBBs) preoperatively?
🔍 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.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
Influence of extreme brachycephalic conformation on perioperative complications associated with total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy in 242 dogs (2010–2020)
2023-5-VS-banks-1
In Welsh 2025 et al., on orthogonal plating, how did unilateral plating compare to orthogonal plating?
🔍 Key Findings
- Compared unilateral plating (UP) vs orthogonal plating (OP) with 2.0, 2.4, and 3.0 mm plates (OP2.0, OP2.4, OP3.0).
- Model: acetal homopolymer (Delrin) rod with 29 mm fixed fracture gap, loaded axially (4–196 N, 90,000 cycles).
- OP constructs had 2.5–4.1x higher strength and 3.0–4.2x higher stiffness than UP constructs (p < .0002).
- UP had 3.5–4.1x higher gap strain than OP groups (p < .0075).
- All OP groups exceeded 1000 N max load before failure (vs 424 N for UP).
- Greater implant size in OP groups further increased performance.
- All constructs survived fatigue loading; 3.5 mm plates showed deformation, especially UP; OP plates remained intact.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2025
Biomechanical analysis of orthogonal and unilateral locking plate constructs in a fracture gap model
2025-4-VS-welsh-2
In Larose 2024 et al., on laparoscopic liver biopsies in dogs, which artifact was significantly more common in 3 mm biopsy samples compared to 5 mm samples?
🔍 Key Findings
- Histologic agreement between 3 mm and 5 mm biopsies was 90%, with a Gwet's AC1 of 0.81 (p < .0001).
- 5 mm biopsies yielded significantly more portal triads and lobules than 3 mm samples (p = .0003 and p < .0001).
- Crush artifacts were significantly higher in 3 mm samples (p = .035), though fragmentation scores were similar (p = .935).
- Both forceps produced adequate samples for histopathology, copper quantification, and bacterial culture.
- No hemorrhage requiring intervention occurred, and both sizes were deemed safe and minimally invasive.
- Surface area ≥40 mm² strongly predicted ≥11 portal triads, a desirable threshold for reliable histopathology.
- Use of 3 mm instruments was easier in small dogs (<12 kg), but more challenging in larger dogs due to shaft length.
- Clinical diagnoses were unaffected by forceps size, even in the one discordant histologic pair.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Comparing 3 mm and 5 mm laparoscopic liver biopsy samples in dogs
2024-4-VS-larose1-3
In Monti 2025 et al., on lymph node fluorescence imaging, which factor was identified as a limitation of ICG uptake for sentinel lymph node identification?
🔍 Key Findings
- Laparoscopic ISLN removal using NIRF-ICG was feasible in 89% of dogs (16/18), demonstrating high procedural success with minimal invasiveness.
- Median laparoscopic dissection time was only 12 minutes, suggesting efficiency of the NIRF-guided approach.
- No postoperative complications were observed, and intraoperative complications occurred in only 2 dogs (11.1%), both requiring conversion to open surgery.
- Metastatic disease was confirmed in 48% of patients (12/25 nodes), including cases where LNs appeared normal in size, highlighting the value of histologic evaluation.
- NIRF-ICG enabled precise identification of small and mildly enlarged nodes, which are often missed during traditional imaging or palpation.
- Fluorescent dye leakage following LN capsule rupture limited visibility and required surgical conversion, indicating a key limitation of the technique.
- ICG signal was occasionally absent in metastatic LNs, likely due to lymphatic rerouting or obstruction, underscoring limitations in SLN identification.
- The lateral approach allowed consistent access to ipsilateral MILN, IILN, and sacral LNs, though contralateral nodes were inaccessible with this method.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Near‐infrared fluorescence‐guided minimally invasive surgery for iliosacral lymph node removal in 18 dogs (2023–2025)
2025-6-VS-monti-3
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