🔍 Key Findings

Objective: Determine if topical 45 mg/mL amikacin in CMC gel leads to systemic absorption in dogs with wounds.

Dogs enrolled: 11 client-owned dogs, with 31 applications of the gel.

Serum findings:

• Only 5 of 153 samples were above the 2.5 µg/mL quantification limit
• All values remained <5 µg/mL, the presumed toxicity threshold
• No correlation was found between dose-related parameters (mg, mg/kg, mg/cm²) and serum amikacin levels

Peak concentrations were observed at ~2 hours post-application, declining rapidly thereafter

No nephrotoxicity observed, and most values were below detection

Conclusion: Topical amikacin gel appears safe at doses up to 24.9 mg/kg, with minimal systemic absorption

🔍 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

Design: Ex vivo cadaver study (n=8 dogs, 24 sites)
Comparison: Freehand vs. 3D-printed drill guide-assisted ventral slot (GAVS vs FHVS)
Findings:

• GAVS produced slots not significantly different from planned dimensions (p = .722–.875)
• FHVS produced significantly shorter slots than intended (p < .01)
• No difference in surgical time (p = .071)
• Shape ratio and slot divergence from midline were similar between groups (p > .4)
• Use of guide significantly reduced variability in slot position (63% → 29%), shape (65% → 24%), and divergence (54% → 50%)

Conclusion: 3D-printed guides improved accuracy and consistency of ventral slot creation by novice surgeons; supports future evaluation in live dogs and small breeds

🔍 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

Study size: 105 dogs (73 ORPS; 32 MIPO)

MIPO vs ORPS differences:

• Surgical time: MIPO median 130 min vs ORPS 85 min (p < .001)
• Explant rate: MIPO 25% vs ORPS 4.1% (p = .003)
• Time to clinical union: MIPO 85 days vs ORPS 57 days (p = .010)
• Frontal alignment deviation: MIPO 3.5° vs ORPS 2.0° (p = .047)
• Comminution more frequent in MIPO (41% vs 16%; p = .012)

Significant predictors for MIPO use: More proximal fracture margin (p = .004), surgeon identity (p < .001)

No significant difference: Sagittal alignment, radial length, union rate, or complication rate by surgeon

Implant preference: Fixin plates used in 84% of MIPO; locking plates more common in ORPS

🔍 Key Findings

Sample: 201 lymphadenectomies in 163 dogs.
Intraoperative techniques:

• Unassisted: 36%
• Methylene blue (MB): 24%
• Gamma probe + MB (γ-MB): 40%

Complication rate: 7.5% overall (93% uncomplicated)

• 80% were mild, 20% moderate; no severe complications
• Most common = seroma (2.5%), lymphoedema (1.5%)

Risk factors (via decision tree model):

• Surgical time > 21.5 min
• Lymph node site = mandibular or retropharyngeal

No significant difference in complication rate based on:

• Guidance technique (p = .255)
• LN palpability, number removed, or LN size

Clinical implication: Peripheral SLN excision is safe regardless of intraoperative technique; certain sites and durations carry slightly higher risk.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Biomechanical study on 14 hindlimbs from Retrievers (cadaveric)
• Three stifle flexion angles tested: 125°, 135°, and 145°
• Contact Force Ratio (CFR) was significantly higher at 125° and 135° than at 145° (p < 0.001)
• Center of force shifted caudally with increasing flexion — especially in medial meniscus
• Lateral meniscus peak pressure was significantly higher at 125° than 145° (p = 0.049)
• Mean pressures on lateral meniscus decreased with extension, while medial meniscus pressure remained constant
• Relevance: Helps interpret meniscal load in early cruciate disease and in surgical modeling

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Cadaveric study using 3 miniature breed dogs (6 hemipelves) to assess spinal neuronavigation accuracy for lumbar plate fixation
• 20 screws placed using CBCT-based navigation with real-time tracking
• 85% (17/20) of screws were safely and accurately placed
• Median deviation of screw entry points from plan: 1.8 mm
• All 3 misplaced screws occurred in a single cadaver, attributed to inexperienced drill handling
• Custom 3D-printed lightweight tracking array was necessary due to small spinous processes in miniature dogs
• No iatrogenic canal perforations or vertebral damage in any specimen
• Concludes neuronavigation offers precise, safe placement of spinal implants in small dogs, with minimal anatomic disruption

🔍 Key Findings

• TPLO alone failed to neutralize rotational instability under tibial pivot compression (TPT), despite a negative TCT.
• TPLO combined with lateral augmentation (TPLO-IB) restored both craniocaudal and rotational stability to near-intact levels.
• Cranial tibial translation was 6× greater after TPLO vs intact stifles when tested with TPT (p < .001).
• No significant difference in cranial tibial translation or internal rotation between intact stifles and TPLO-IB group during TCT, eTPT, or iTPT.
• TPLO-IB did not overconstrain the stifle, avoiding excessive external rotation.
• External tibial rotation (eTPT) was more sensitive than TCT in detecting persistent instability after TPLO.
• Excellent intraobserver reliability for both eTPT and iTPT (ICC > 0.9).
• Study supports intraoperative use of TPT to identify cases needing additional rotational stabilization.