Quiz Question
In Mancusi 2026 et al., on cup impactor accuracy, what is the ideal angle of lateral opening (ALO) recommended for Zurich cementless total hip replacement cups in dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Cup positioning accuracy for the angle of lateral opening (ALO) was significantly influenced by impactor design for beginner surgeons.
- The prototype impactor reduced ALO mean error for the beginner surgeon (1.8°) compared with the standard impactor (3.9°).
- Senior surgeons achieved similar ALO accuracy regardless of impactor type, suggesting experience mitigates instrument limitations.
- Beginner surgeons using the standard impactor tended to place cups with excessive ALO (~48.9°), deviating from the ideal 45°.
- Cup retroversion accuracy was not significantly affected by the impactor type, indicating it depends more on surgeon experience and anatomical landmark recognition.
- Typical acceptable retroversion range for Zurich THR cups is approximately 15–25°, matched to the patient’s acetabular anatomy.
- Prototype impactor design improvements included ergonomic handle, wider hammering surface, shorter aiming bar, and cup-size–specific holders, improving instrument stability and alignment.
- Improved instrument ergonomics may facilitate safer learning curves for surgeons performing canine total hip replacement.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
2
2026
Comparison between Two Zurich Cementless Total Hip Replacement Cup Impactor Types in the Accuracy of Cup Positioning: An In Vitro Study
2026-2-vcot-mancusi-1
In Vandekerckhove 2026 et al., on hip laxity forces, what was the median maximal Laxity Index (LImax) observed in the study population?
🔍 Key Findings
- Applied force and hip laxity showed a predictable force–laxity relationship, validating previous cadaver findings in live sedated dogs.
- 90% of hip joints achieved ≥90% of maximal laxity at 80.45 N, establishing a practical minimum force target during stress radiography.
- LImax was not significantly affected by osteoarthritis, sex, age, or side, supporting robustness of the technique.
- Body weight significantly influenced both LImax and force–laxity curves, although this may reflect study population bias.
- Median LImax was 0.48 (range 0.32–0.78), with maximal laxity reached at forces ranging from 66–123 N.
- The force–laxity curve demonstrated a rapid rise followed by a plateau, indicating a threshold beyond which additional force yields minimal additional subluxation.
- Sedated dogs required approximately 15 N less force than cadavers to reach adequate laxity, likely due to muscle relaxation and absence of postmortem stiffness.
- The VMBDmD stress radiography technique demonstrated clinical practicality and reproducibility, supporting its use for canine hip dysplasia screening.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2026
Quantifying the Stress in Stress Radiography to Determine Sufficient Laxity of the Coxofemoral Joint in Sedated Dogs
2026-3-vcot-vandekerckhove-3
In Weichert 2026 et al., on feline CMF fractures, which temporomandibular joint structure was most frequently involved in fractures?
🔍 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.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
2
2026
Assessment of Fracture Distribution and Involvement of Functional Systems Following Craniomaxillofacial Trauma in 48 Cats
2026-2-vcot-weichert-2
In Vandekerckhove 2026 et al., on hip laxity forces, which variable was significantly associated with maximal Laxity Index (LImax)?
🔍 Key Findings
- Applied force and hip laxity showed a predictable force–laxity relationship, validating previous cadaver findings in live sedated dogs.
- 90% of hip joints achieved ≥90% of maximal laxity at 80.45 N, establishing a practical minimum force target during stress radiography.
- LImax was not significantly affected by osteoarthritis, sex, age, or side, supporting robustness of the technique.
- Body weight significantly influenced both LImax and force–laxity curves, although this may reflect study population bias.
- Median LImax was 0.48 (range 0.32–0.78), with maximal laxity reached at forces ranging from 66–123 N.
- The force–laxity curve demonstrated a rapid rise followed by a plateau, indicating a threshold beyond which additional force yields minimal additional subluxation.
- Sedated dogs required approximately 15 N less force than cadavers to reach adequate laxity, likely due to muscle relaxation and absence of postmortem stiffness.
- The VMBDmD stress radiography technique demonstrated clinical practicality and reproducibility, supporting its use for canine hip dysplasia screening.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2026
Quantifying the Stress in Stress Radiography to Determine Sufficient Laxity of the Coxofemoral Joint in Sedated Dogs
2026-3-vcot-vandekerckhove-2
In Scharpf 2026 et al., on radioulnar joint morphology, which radioulnar compartments demonstrated significant malformation in dogs with MCD?
🔍 Key Findings
- Dogs with MCD demonstrated significant radioulnar joint malformation in the central, centrolateral, and lateral compartments on transverse CT imaging.
- Radioulnar ratios were significantly decreased at measurement points 3–5 in MCD elbows (p = 0.044), indicating widening and incongruity of the radioulnar joint space.
- Medial and mediocentral radioulnar compartments remained congruent, showing no significant differences between MCD and control elbows.
- Radioulnar opening angle did not differ between groups, suggesting that joint malformation was localized rather than reflected by global angular changes.
- No evidence of radioulnar step formation was identified, despite previous theories linking step incongruity to MCD development.
- Gender, breed, and body weight were not associated with radioulnar ratios, suggesting morphology rather than demographic factors influenced findings.
- Central and lateral radioulnar pathology may be missed during routine medial elbow arthroscopy, potentially contributing to persistent clinical signs after treatment.
- Radioulnar malformation may contribute both to MCD pathogenesis and to incomplete success following arthroscopic treatment.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2026
Assessment of the Conformation of the Radioulnar Joint Comparing Dogs with and without Medial Coronoid Disease
2026-3-vs-scharpf-1
In Zann 2023 et al., In Long-term outcomes after proximal humeral OC debridement in dogs, what was a consistent finding in all shoulders treated surgically for proximal humeral osteochondrosis?
🔍 Key Findings
- 20 dogs (26 shoulders) evaluated at mean 3.5 years post-surgery after arthroscopic or open debridement.
- Ipsilateral muscle atrophy and decreased range of motion (↓ extension, ↓ flexion) in affected limbs compared to contralateral healthy shoulders.
- All treated shoulders developed osteoarthritis, confirmed radiographically, by CT, and arthroscopically.
- Moderate to severe synovitis was present in all shoulders; lesions showed patchy, incomplete cartilage infilling even up to 8.9 years post-op.
- Kinetic gait analysis showed no significant differences in PVF/VI between affected and unaffected limbs, despite mild lameness clinically.
- Owners reported good to very good mobility (median LOAD = 6), often underestimating clinical lameness.
- CT detected larger lesion dimensions than radiographs (wider, deeper defects).
- Despite progression of OA, surgical debridement was associated with satisfactory long-term function, though not prevention of degenerative changes.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2023
Long-term outcome of dogs treated by surgical debridement of proximal humeral osteochondrosis
2023-7-VS-zann-1
In Beer 2026 et al., on synovial CRP biomarkers, what was the median synovial CRP concentration reported in dogs with osteoarthritis?
🔍 Key Findings
- Synovial CRP was significantly lower in osteoarthritis than both IMPA and bacterial infective arthritis (p=0.001 for both comparisons).
- Synovial CRP could not differentiate IMPA from bacterial infective arthritis (p=0.721), limiting its value as a stand-alone diagnostic test.
- Median synovial CRP concentrations were 0.2 mg/L (OA), 65.79 mg/L (IMPA), and 60.8 mg/L (infective arthritis).
- Synovial CRP is useful for distinguishing inflammatory from non-inflammatory arthropathies, but not infectious from sterile inflammatory disease.
- Synovial neutrophil count positively correlated with synovial CRP in IMPA and infective arthritis, supporting CRP as a marker of joint inflammation.
- Serum and synovial CRP showed a moderate positive correlation in IMPA cases (r=0.52), although not statistically significant.
- Higher synovial CRP was associated with increased lameness severity in osteoarthritis (r=0.91, p=0.004).
- Diagnosis of bacterial infective arthritis remains multifactorial, requiring integration of history, cytology, culture, and treatment response rather than CRP alone.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2026
Synovial Fluid C-Reactive Protein as a Biomarker in Osteoarthritis, Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis and Bacterial Infective Arthritis
2026-3-vcot-beer-3
In Beer 2026 et al., on synovial CRP biomarkers, which finding best described synovial CRP concentrations among disease groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- Synovial CRP was significantly lower in osteoarthritis than both IMPA and bacterial infective arthritis (p=0.001 for both comparisons).
- Synovial CRP could not differentiate IMPA from bacterial infective arthritis (p=0.721), limiting its value as a stand-alone diagnostic test.
- Median synovial CRP concentrations were 0.2 mg/L (OA), 65.79 mg/L (IMPA), and 60.8 mg/L (infective arthritis).
- Synovial CRP is useful for distinguishing inflammatory from non-inflammatory arthropathies, but not infectious from sterile inflammatory disease.
- Synovial neutrophil count positively correlated with synovial CRP in IMPA and infective arthritis, supporting CRP as a marker of joint inflammation.
- Serum and synovial CRP showed a moderate positive correlation in IMPA cases (r=0.52), although not statistically significant.
- Higher synovial CRP was associated with increased lameness severity in osteoarthritis (r=0.91, p=0.004).
- Diagnosis of bacterial infective arthritis remains multifactorial, requiring integration of history, cytology, culture, and treatment response rather than CRP alone.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2026
Synovial Fluid C-Reactive Protein as a Biomarker in Osteoarthritis, Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis and Bacterial Infective Arthritis
2026-3-vcot-beer-1
In Espinel Rupérez 2023 et al., in Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization in cats, what type of cartilage injury was most commonly observed?
🔍 Key Findings
- 14 joints from 7 cat cadavers underwent AA-HTS successfully.
- Median surgical time: 46.5 min (29–144), including 7 min for arthroscopy and 40 min for toggle placement.
- Intraoperative complications in 5/14 joints: 4 related to femoral tunnel creation, 1 toggle lodging.
- Toggle passage through femoral tunnel was the most challenging step, mildly difficult in 6 joints.
- Cartilage injury occurred in 10 joints, but all were minor (<10% of cartilage area).
- 13 deviations from planned technique were identified (8 major, 5 minor), all involving femoral tunnel placement.
- No neurovascular, intrapelvic, or major periarticular injuries occurred.
- Authors conclude: AA-HTS is feasible in cats, but associated with high rates of minor iatrogenic cartilage damage, intra-op complications, and technique deviations.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2023
Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization in cats: An ex vivo feasibility study
2023-7-VS-espinel-3
In Danielski 2022 et al., on humero-anconeal incongruity, what dynamic sign was frequently observed during elbow manipulation in dogs with HIF?
🔍 Key Findings
- A novel caudo-medial arthroscopic portal allowed visualization of previously undescribed cartilage lesions on the caudal medial humeral condyle.
- A consistent focal cartilage lesion (HA lesion) was observed in 100% of elbows with HIF (21/21), but in none of the 31 elbows without HIF.
- Lesions varied from indentations to full-thickness cartilage loss, typically elliptical and located just medial to the humeral condyle isthmus.
- A clunk-like sensation and dynamic engagement of the anconeal process into the lesion were observed in 16/21 elbows with HIF during elbow manipulation.
- In 5/21 elbows, engagement of the anconeal process led to observable widening of the HIF line, suggesting dynamic instability.
- Findings support a novel concept of humero-anconeal incongruity as a contributor to the pathogenesis of HIF.
- Spaniel breed was not a confounder—the lesion was only present in elbows with HIF, regardless of breed.
- The study suggests potential for using arthroscopy as a screening tool for early detection of humero-anconeal incongruity and HIF risk.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Humero-anconeal elbow incongruity in spaniel breed dogs with humeral intracondylar fissure: Arthroscopic findings
2022-1-VS-danielski2-3
Quiz Results
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Key Findings