🔍 Key Findings

• Postoperative complications occurred in 20% of stifles, including 7.5% minor, 10.3% surgical, and 3.4% medical complications.
• The PROSPECT machine-learning model achieved high predictive accuracy: 92.3% for surgical complications, 91.9% for minor, and 94.3% for medical.
• Top predictive features included surgical technique, implant type, patient age, and surgeon identity.
• Surgeon-specific variables influenced predictions, indicating operator experience and technique matter.
• Engineered interaction features (e.g., breed × implant) were more predictive than raw clinical data alone.
• Rottweiler, intact male status, and higher bodyweight were associated with increased complication risk; Labradors had decreased risk.
• Model calibration was strong, especially for high and low probability predictions; midrange predictions were less reliable.
• The model supports individualized, probabilistic risk assessment, which could inform client counseling and tailored postoperative care.

PROSPECT = Predicting Risk Of Surgical compli­cations aftEr CCWO and TPLO

🔍 Key Findings

• 15 dogs underwent minimally invasive tarsal arthrodesis (MITA); 10 partial, 5 pantarsal.
• Mean time to radiographic union: 1.8 ± 0.5 months.
• Mean time to clinical union: 3.7 ± 0.8 months.
• Complete osseous union: 46%; the rest achieved ≥50% with functional weightbearing.
• Complication rate: 26% major (mostly implant-related); no catastrophic complications or plantar necrosis.
• Functional outcomes: 6 full, 8 acceptable, 1 unacceptable (not due to MITA).
• MITA may lower soft tissue complications vs open approaches and enable faster healing.

🔍 Key Findings

• Mandibular fractures were the most common injury, occurring in 40/48 cats, often affecting multiple mandibular regions simultaneously.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries were frequent, present in 27/48 cats, with 23 fractures and 4 luxations, most commonly involving the condylar process.
• Maxillofacial fractures involving nasal and palatal structures occurred in 36/48 cats, frequently producing airway obstruction due to fragment displacement or swelling.
• Orbital fractures occurred in 30/48 cats, predominantly affecting the dorsomedial orbital wall and often associated with nasal airway obstruction.
• Pterygoid bone fractures (25/48) were clinically important, frequently causing medial displacement and obstruction of the nasopharyngeal airway.
• Combined involvement of multiple functional systems was common, with 36/48 cats showing concurrent injuries affecting oral cavity and nasal airway function.
• Neurocranial fractures were uncommon (6/48) but occurred only in cases with severe, multifocal CMF trauma.
• CT imaging was essential for diagnosis, as many orbital and skull fractures were difficult or impossible to detect clinically.

🔍 Key Findings

• Fluoroscopy-guided osteotomy placement achieved a median postoperative TPA of 3° (range: 0–4.5°), showing excellent accuracy.
• The D1 measurement (from patellar ligament insertion to osteotomy exit) was more reproducible and accurate intraoperatively than D2.
• Median R1 value (D1-based) matched the intended 21 mm radius with only 0.5 mm deviation, while R2 deviated by 2.5 mm.
• Real-time fluoroscopy allowed dynamic limb positioning and reduced osteotomy placement variability.
• Intraoperative fluoroscopy reduced reliance on preoperative planning, especially in cases with difficult anatomy or positioning.
• Radiation exposure was minimal (avg. 3 images per case) and within safe limits using standard protection protocols.
• Study standardized to 21 mm blades and excluded dogs with developmental orthopedic conditions to reduce confounders.
• Targeting a lower postoperative TPA (3°) may reduce meniscal load and cranio-caudal instability, though long-term outcomes require further study.

🔍 Key Findings

• Only 1 of 12 dogs (8.3%) cultured the same single organism (Staphylococcus schleiferi) at TECA and dehiscence sites.
• In 58.3% (7/12), none of the bacteria from TECA cultures were found at dehiscence.
• Staphylococcus spp. were isolated in 83.3% of dehiscence samples.
• Methicillin resistance was high among Staphylococcus isolates: 80% at dehiscence.
• Antibiotic susceptibility differed in 57% (4/7) of cases where the same bacteria were cultured at both time points.
• TECA cultures were not predictive of bacteria at incisional dehiscence.
• 75% of dogs healed with either medical or surgical management.

Recommendation: Repeat cultures at dehiscence to guide antibiotic therapy.

🔍 Key Findings

• Liver masses were most common in the left division (58%), followed by central (27%) and right (15%).
• Right divisional masses were significantly associated with intraoperative complications (33% vs 5.6% left, p = .0037), particularly hemorrhage and injury to major vessels.
• Mortality rate was 6.5% overall, with no significant association with liver lobe location.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 28.7% of cases, but were not significantly associated with mass location.
• Thoracic incision extension (sternotomy or diaphragmotomy) increased odds of postoperative complications by 9.1x (p < .001).
• Use of TA stapler significantly reduced both intraoperative (OR 19x lower) and postoperative complications (OR 4.4x lower) vs other methods.
• Specialist surgeons and heavier dogs had significantly fewer postoperative complications.
• Right lobectomies often required thoracic extension, indirectly linking them to increased postoperative morbidity.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• 20 cats with pelvic fractures treated using locking plates with only cortical screws
• 28 fractures stabilized (ilium: 17, acetabulum: 6, ischium: 3, pubis: 2)
• Implants: Primarily 1.5/2.0 mm LCPs or String-of-Pearls plates
• Major complications in 2/20 cases (10%): sciatic entrapment, malunion requiring THA
• Minor complications in 2/20 cases (10%): plate impingement, transient lameness
• Clinical union in all cats by 8 weeks; all cats returned to full function
• Authors conclude cortical screws alone can provide adequate fixation in feline pelvic fractures if screw purchase and bone quality are sufficient

🔍 Key Findings

• No significant difference in infection-inflammation rates between single-layer Kraton drapes and traditional double-layer draping at both 21 days and 6 months postop.
• Infection-inflammation occurred in 4.56% (36/789) of cases; equally distributed across draping techniques.
• Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) was the most common procedure (61%).
• Kraton drape features an elastic fenestration that seals without adhesives or towel clamps, offering ecological and workflow advantages.
• Mean anesthesia duration was similar between groups (~73.8 min), suggesting draping method did not impact overall surgical time.
• Culture confirmation of infection was low (14 dogs), showing reliance on clinical criteria for diagnosis.
• Potential benefits of single-layer draping include reduced waste, no need for towel clamps, and ease of use without increased risk.
• Limitations included subjective follow-up (nearly 30% indirect via phone/images) and antimicrobial usage in all cases.

🔍 Key Findings

• Refracture occurred in 5.5% of limbs, with higher incidence in the plate removal group (12.5%) vs. non-removal (3.5%).
• In the non-plate removal group, refractures occurred at the most distal screw site, linked to greater screw position change during growth (OR 1.79, p=0.04).
• Screw-to-bone diameter ratio (SBDR) >0.4 was a significant risk factor for refracture in the plate retention group.
• In the plate removal group, refractures occurred at the original fracture site, associated with lower pixel value ratio (bone mineral density) and reduced radial thickness.
• Implant-induced osteoporosis (IIO) beneath the plate likely contributed to refracture risk after plate removal.
• Younger age at fracture (<6 months) was associated with higher refracture risk due to ongoing radial growth and shifting screw position.
• No significant association was found between refracture and plate type (locking vs conventional), fixation method, or ulnar union.
• Recommendations include careful SBDR sizing, motion restriction, and cautious plate removal decisions in growing dogs.

🔍 Key Findings

• All dogs developed progressive osteoarthritis (OA) after surgical debridement of proximal humeral OC.
• Ipsilateral muscle atrophy and reduced shoulder range of motion were common, particularly in unilaterally affected dogs.
• Arthroscopically, lesions showed incomplete cartilage infilling even years after surgery, averaging only ~37% infilling.
• Synovitis was present in all joints, with moderate-to-severe hypertrophy and vascularity scores.
• CT identified OC lesions as deeper and wider than radiography, and all affected joints had more advanced OA than contralateral limbs (P = .001 radiograph, P = .005 CT).
• Kinetic gait analysis showed no significant differences in peak vertical force or impulse, but a subtle 4.4% asymmetric load reduction on the operated limb.
• Median LOAD score was 6, indicating mild owner-perceived disability despite measurable clinical and imaging abnormalities.
• Cartilage infilling was incomplete in all cases, with no lesion exceeding 60% restoration, raising questions about the healing potential of debridement alone.