🔍 Key Findings

• The CORA-based cranial closing wedge ostectomy (CCWOCORA) consistently achieved the target postoperative TPA of 5° across all tibial morphologies.
• CCWOCORA produced significantly less variability in postoperative TPA compared to other methods (TPA range: 5.00–5.00°; p < .001).
• Mechanical axis advancement (MAA) was precisely controlled at 3° in CCWOCORA, leading to greater surgical predictability.
• Other techniques (e.g., CCWO_TPA, CCWO_TPA–5, CCWO_ISO) showed greater variance in TPA, MAA, and tibial length.
• In small-breed dogs, increasing the MAA from 3° to 5° did not affect TPA outcomes, but increased proximal bone stock, improving feasibility.
• Wedge angles and tibial length changes varied by method, but CCWOCORA maintained length better than TPA-based methods.
• The technique allows preoperative planning of both desired MAA and TPA, enhancing predictability and customization.
• CORA methodology enables precise geometric correction and alignment of mechanical axes, reducing reliance on trial-and-error alignment.

🔍 Key Findings

• Endoscopic-assisted retrograde catheterization (EARC) and laser sphincterotomy were successful in 18/18 cadavers, demonstrating technical feasibility.
• Intramural common bile duct (ICBD) length ranged from 10 to 21 mm (mean 15.8 mm), with no correlation to body weight (r = 0.06, p = .79).
• Transition from ICBD to extramural duct was accurately identified endoscopically in 88% (16/18); transition was heralded by separation of the submucosal layer.
• Partial lateral perforations occurred in 2/18 dogs, only during early learning phase; no leakage was found on open dissection.
• Laser sphincterotomy preserved the pancreatic duct orifice, aided by protective catheter positioning.
• Compared to open duodenotomy, this technique allows for a smaller incision and less manipulation of the pancreas, which may reduce morbidity.
• No adverse events such as intra-abdominal saline egress or full-thickness perforation occurred, and the technique allowed safe access up to 10 mm from the MDP.
• Cadaveric limitations included absence of biliary pathology and inability to evaluate live complications, but the technique shows promise for future live animal trials.

🔍 Key Findings

• PRUDA (proximal radio-ulnar divergence angle) and UCORA (ulnar center of rotation of angulation) were significantly greater in Cocker Spaniels with HIF vs those without.
• PRUDA (p < .001): Group 1 (HIF) vs Group 2 & 3.
• UCORA (p = .036): Group 1 vs Group 3.
• Other angles (MPRA, LDRA, PCRA, DCRA, torsion) showed no significant differences.
• Increased PRUDA and UCORA may lead to divergent load vectors across the humeral condyle, potentially predisposing to stress fracture (HIF).
• Measurement techniques using CT-based 3D reconstructions were reliable (intraobserver ICC > 0.84).

🔍 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

• Prestretching (PS) at 10 mmHg for 3 minutes significantly increased working space at 6 mmHg IAP — IWL +4.4%, IWS +6.9%.
• PS provided ≈63% of the IWL and ≈66% of the IWS gains achieved with sustained 10 mmHg IAP.
• All laparoscopic procedures were completed at 6 mmHg after PS; no conversions or pressure increases were needed.
• Working space benefits persisted throughout surgery — end-of-procedure measurements were unchanged from post-PS baseline.
• Transverse expansion (RLAT/LLAT) was greater than sagittal (CRA/CAU), consistent with adult abdominal wall compliance.
• No adverse anesthetic events occurred; mild complications (e.g., gas leakage) were easily managed.
• Large breed dogs were overrepresented, but all dogs served as their own controls, normalizing size effects.
• Prestretching is a simple, effective technique to maximize working space without increasing insufflation pressure.

🔍 Key Findings

• Lower CTI values were significantly associated with higher risk of both intraoperative and postoperative femoral fractures or fissures (p <.0001).
• The mean CTI for all dogs was 0.285, whereas dogs with fissures/fractures had a mean CTI of 0.246.
• For each 0.001 increase in CTI, odds of fissure/fracture decreased by 2–3% depending on perioperative timing.
• High interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.984) and consistency between pre- and postoperative CTI measurements (ICC = 0.96).
• CTI was the only significant risk factor identified; age, breed, bodyweight, BCS, CFI, or luxoid hips were not significant.
• Prophylactic lateral plating in dogs with low CTI (mean 0.230) resulted in no postoperative fractures.
• Postoperative fractures occurred in 8% of cases, and 93% of dogs returned to full function within one year.
• CTI may be a useful radiographic screening tool, especially when advanced imaging (e.g., DEXA) is unavailable.

🔍 Key Findings

• 42% of dogs (33/78) treated with Arthrex 3.5 mm STS during TPLO developed radiographic TCTF
• TCTFs occurred exclusively distal to the osteotomy
• 14% of screws (36/250) distal to the osteotomy were associated with TCTFs
• 6% of dogs with TCTFs developed major complications (e.g., complete tibial fracture requiring surgical revision)
• Angulation of cortical STS screws, especially in the distal plate holes, was a key contributor to complications
• Locking screws were also involved, but cortical screws angled improperly were overrepresented in serious outcomes
• Revision recommendations included preemptive fixation for large TCTFs or angulated screw placements
• Use of non-self-tapping screws (NSTS) previously showed a <1% TCTF rate, supporting higher risk with STS

🔍 Key Findings

• Double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) significantly decreases dorsal acetabular rim angle (DARA), confirming improved acetabular ventroversion and femoral head coverage in dysplastic hips.
• The achieved acetabular ventroversion is consistently less than the plate’s predetermined angle, indicating predictable loss of rotation during DPO.
• Median reduction in DARA was 23.4°, 16.7°, and 15° with 30°, 25°, and 20° plates respectively, demonstrating that larger plates produce greater rotation but still less than intended.
• Actual ventroversion achieved was ~5–8° less than the plate angle, with median losses of 6.6°, 8.3°, and 5° for 30°, 25°, and 20° plates.
• Postoperative DARA decreased from ~16–18° preoperatively to approximately −4°, aligning with recommended postoperative acetabular slope targets.
• Postoperative DARA remained stable on short-term (~48 days) and long-term (~386 days) CT follow-up, suggesting minimal remodeling after DPO.
• Most acetabular rotation (~88%) occurs at the pelvic symphysis rather than through iliac torsion, explaining partial loss of rotation relative to plate angle.
• CT-measured DARA provides a reliable surgical planning metric and may improve implant angle selection for DPO procedures.

🔍 Key Findings

Population: 24 dogs (<8.5 months) undergoing unilateral cementless THR.
Growth Impact:

• Operated femurs showed ~11.5% less trochanteric growth than controls (p = .002).
• No significant difference in femoral diaphyseal + epiphyseal length (p = .712) or femur overall (p = .465).

Cortical Width:

• Increased significantly at 10 mm distal to trochanter (4.6% increase, p = .037) and at 50% femoral length (8.5% increase, p = .030).

Clinical relevance: Despite measurable changes, no clinically significant impairment to femoral length occurred.
Effect Sizes:

• Moderate negative for trochanteric growth.
• Moderate positive for proximal femoral width.

🔍 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.