🔍 Key Findings

• Spacer pin fixation showed no difference in failure force or stiffness compared to tension band wire (TBW) or 2-pin techniques.
• All constructs failed under loads >1000 N, exceeding estimated peak quadriceps force in dogs during walking (~240 N).
• Patellar ligament failure was the most common mode of failure across all groups (5–8 samples per group).
• Distal tibial crest fractures were seen only in 2-pin and spacer pin groups, not in TBW group, suggesting TBW may protect against crest failure.
• No failures occurred at pin tracts, possibly due to pin placement within patellar ligament footprint.
• Spacer pin technique avoids placing pins through the tuberosity, potentially reducing risks of soft tissue complications like tendinopathy or irritation.
• Use of partial osteotomy with robust distal crest may substitute for TBW without compromising initial mechanical strength.
• Further in vivo or cyclic loading studies are required, as this cadaveric study tested only acute tensile failure.

🔍 Key Findings

• Quadriceps muscle length/femoral length ratio (QML/FL) was significantly lower in dogs with grade IV MPL than grades I–III (p ≤ .002).
• Shortened QML was associated with increased femoral torsion angle (FTA) and increased aLDFA, indicating correlation with femoral deformity.
• QML/FL increased with age, possibly due to muscular development or reduced deformity in older dogs (p = .004).
• Grade IV MPL dogs had QML/FL < 0.87, the lower normal limit based on healthy beagles, suggesting clinically significant muscle shortening.
• PLL/PL ratio (used to diagnose patella alta) was not associated with QML/FL or MPL severity in small breeds.
• QML/FL can help preoperatively identify candidates for femoral shortening ostectomy, improving femoropatellar alignment.
• Multivariate regression model confirmed QML/FL is independently influenced by age, FTA, and aLDFA (R² = 0.45).
• CT-based 3D measurements enabled objective, noninvasive quantification of femoral and muscle alignment parameters.

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D CT volume rendering and CAL measurement successfully guided correction of femoral and tibial torsion in dogs with patellar luxation (PL).
• Physiological patellar tracking was restored in 100% (22/22) of cases after detorsional osteotomy.
• 94% of dogs (17/18) had either full or acceptable functional outcomes post-surgery.
• CAL-based correction was accurate in 19/22 cases, confirming reliability of the measurement technique.
• Complication rate was 45%, with major complications in 2/22 cases—both involved combined femoral and tibial osteotomies.
• Combined femoral and tibial osteotomies in the same limb were linked to a higher risk of complications and poorer outcomes.
• Diaphyseal osteotomies offered more implant space, but metaphyseal locations were associated with faster bone healing.
• Use of a TPLO jig or goniometer was not essential—CAL-based bone marking was sufficient in most cases.

🔍 Key Findings

• Spacer pin fixation showed no difference in failure force or stiffness compared to tension band wire (TBW) or 2-pin techniques.
• All constructs failed under loads >1000 N, exceeding estimated peak quadriceps force in dogs during walking (~240 N).
• Patellar ligament failure was the most common mode of failure across all groups (5–8 samples per group).
• Distal tibial crest fractures were seen only in 2-pin and spacer pin groups, not in TBW group, suggesting TBW may protect against crest failure.
• No failures occurred at pin tracts, possibly due to pin placement within patellar ligament footprint.
• Spacer pin technique avoids placing pins through the tuberosity, potentially reducing risks of soft tissue complications like tendinopathy or irritation.
• Use of partial osteotomy with robust distal crest may substitute for TBW without compromising initial mechanical strength.
• Further in vivo or cyclic loading studies are required, as this cadaveric study tested only acute tensile failure.

🔍 Key Findings

• 11 dogs, 13 fractures (mostly Salter-Harris type I) were repaired with FGPP using Kirschner wires.
• 10/13 fractures achieved satisfactory healing with good limb function at ~43 days median follow-up.
• Major complications occurred in 5 dogs: intra-articular pin placement, implant migration (2), implant failure with nonunion, and malunion.
• 2 dogs presenting >15 days post-injury with radiographic remodeling were poor candidates → higher risk of nonunion/malunion.
• Preoperative displacement was mostly mild (10/13 fractures); these had better outcomes than chronic or severely displaced cases.
• Median surgical time: 60 minutes (range 45–75), all performed percutaneously without conversion to open.
• Elective pin removal was performed in 5 cases; migration occurred with both short and long cut wires.
• Femoral neck resorption (“apple-coring”) was rare (2/10 healed cases) and thought to be less frequent than after ORIF due to reduced vascular disruption.

🔍 Key Findings

• Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization (AA-HTS) was successfully completed in all 14 feline cadaver joints.
• Femoral and acetabular tunnel creation was feasible in all cases, though femoral tunnel placement had a higher rate of deviations.
• Intraoperative complications occurred in 5/14 joints, mostly related to femoral tunnel creation and toggle lodging.
• Minor articular cartilage injury (<10% total cartilage area) occurred in 10/14 joints, but no injury to neurovascular or intrapelvic structures.
• Thirteen surgical technique deviations (8 major, 5 minor) were identified in 7 joints, all involving the femoral tunnel.
• Toggle passage through the femoral tunnel was the most challenging step, being mildly difficult in 6 joints.
• Postoperative CT and gross dissection confirmed all toggles and buttons were in correct position, without damage to major surrounding structures.
• No deviations, complications, or cartilage injuries occurred in the last 4 joints, suggesting a learning curve effect.

🔍 Key Findings

• Both patient-specific and universal guides yielded correction errors <2°, with no statistically significant difference in accuracy.
• Universal guide corrected aLDFA up to 24° and AA up to 20°, addressing multiplanar deformities effectively.
• Patient-specific guides allowed for preoperative simulation, providing more stable pin placement and potentially aiding less-experienced surgeons.
• Universal guide eliminated the need for CT-based customization, reducing time and cost.
• Cadaver and bone model trials showed consistent accuracy, validating both methods in vitro and ex vivo.
• No significant differences in outcome when correcting uniplanar (aLDFA) vs biplanar (aLDFA + AA) deformities.
• Universal guide's fixed size presented limitations in small dogs, potentially requiring multiple size options.
• Universal guide showed potential for standard use, offering repeatable outcomes with minimal prep despite needing precise intraoperative placement.

🔍 Key Findings

Design: In vitro study on cadaveric femurs (n=21) with basilar femoral neck fractures stabilized using 2 vs 3 titanium cannulated screws.

Stiffness: Control > 3-screw > 2-screw (674 > 120 > 90 N/mm).

Yield Load: 3-screw (586 N) > 2-screw (303 N); both < intact femur (2692 N).

Displacement: No difference across groups.

Complication: 3-screw technique more demanding; higher risk of cortical perforation, especially with narrow femoral necks.

Failure Mode: Dislodgement of femoral head + screw shaft bending.

Conclusion: 3 screws = stronger construct than 2 screws. Clinical implications need further study.

🔍 Key Findings

• 2.4 mm LCP with a 1.6 mm IM pin had the highest axial stiffness and yield strength among the tested constructs.
• Axial stiffness was significantly higher in the 2.4 mm LCP + 1.6 mm IM pin group compared to 2.7 mm LCP alone (p = .013).
• No significant difference in torsional stiffness was found among groups.
• 2.4 mm LCP + 1.0 mm pin had the lowest stiffness and failure load, underperforming both other constructs.
• All constructs failed via valgus bending, consistent with clinical observations in feline tibial fractures.
• A 1.6 mm pin (~50% canal fill) resulted in superior construct performance vs. 1.0 mm (~30% fill).
• Group 2 (2.4 LCP + 1.6 mm pin) outperformed the 2.7 mm LCP alone in stiffness, despite using a smaller plate.
• Plate–rod constructs may better preserve periosteal blood supply and support minimally invasive stabilization strategies.