🔍 Key Findings Summary

• 62 fractures in 61 dogs (44 lateral condylar, 18 intracondylar); mostly Spaniels
• LEAP plate used in all cases; minimal intraoperative contouring needed (1 French Bulldog)
• Overall complication rate: ~33%, mostly minor; 1 amputation due to catastrophic infection
• Radiographic healing:
  • Lateral epicondylar part healed in 100%
  • Condylar part healed in ~61.5% LCF and ~57.1% ICF
• Functional outcomes:
  • 87% returned to full limb use
  • Median LOAD score: 2 for LCF, 6.5 for ICF
• Design adjustments made post-study to strengthen weak zones around 3rd–4th screw holes

🔍 Key Findings

• LVSG was feasible in 9/10 feline cadavers with successful stapled gastrectomy and minimal technical complications.
• Stenosis at the incisura angularis occurred in 2/10 cadavers, associated with staple placement too close to the lesser curvature.
• Leak testing was negative in 8 cadavers and both live cats, indicating effective staple sealing.
• Mean stomach resection was ~28%, though less than human standards (~75–80%) for metabolic effects.
• Surgery was performed safely in two live feline subjects, with no intraoperative or postoperative complications over a 6-month follow-up.
• Technique refinements included orogastric tube placement and custom 3D-printed cannulas to improve staple line accuracy and avoid stenosis.
• Tri-Staple purple cartridges provided graduated compression suited for feline gastric tissue thickness (~2.5 mm).
• No need for staple line oversew in live cats; staple-only closure proved safe in this short-term study.

🔍 Key Findings

Incidence of BFX lateral bolt stem breakage: 2.95% (13 dogs, 14 stems)

Implant factors:

• 13/14 were BFX lateral bolt stems (sizes #5–7)
• +9 necks used in 5/11 of 17 mm heads
• 10/14 stems undersized based on radiographs
• 10/13 dogs exceeded weight limits for implanted stem size

Malalignment:

• 10/14 had varus alignment (median 3.9°)
• 8/14 had insufficient proximodistal seating

Breakage site: Proximolateral shoulder in all cases

Revision outcomes:

• 11 revised (7 CFX, 3 larger BFX, 1 collared)
• 9/10 revised dogs regained full function
• Complications: 1 rebreakage, 1 periprosthetic fracture, 1 fixation failure

Histopathology:

• Electron microscopy showed fatigue striations and incomplete bead fusion

Conclusion: Avoid small BFX lateral bolt stems if undersized or if long necks required; use weight guidelines to prevent fatigue failure.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• No significant difference in mechanical properties between contoured vs non-contoured SOP-LC rods
• Clamp configuration significantly influenced mechanical performance:
  • Single-side clamps → ↑ yield load, ↑ displacement, ↑ bending strength (p < 0.05)
  • Alternating-side clamps → ↑ initial torsional stiffness (p = 0.029)
• Clamp slippage was evident only in torsional tests; screw loosening may be torque-dependent
• Mild screw bending and construct offset suggest subtle instability
• Recommends clamp configuration choice based on loading scenario
• Suggests 3.0 Nm torque may be more effective than 2.5 Nm to prevent clamp slippage

🔍 Key Findings

• 12-hole LCPs (80% plate–bone ratio) showed significantly higher construct stiffness than 6-, 8-, or 10-hole plates in both compression and tension bending.
• Strain on the plate was significantly lower in 12-hole vs 6-hole plates at all regions of interest (ROIs), especially around the fracture gap.
• No incremental increases in stiffness or decreases in strain were observed between 6-, 8-, and 10-hole plates—only when comparing to 12-hole plates.
• Bone model strain adjacent to the plate end was significantly lower for 10- and 12-hole plates vs 6-hole plates under both loading conditions.
• The threshold effect suggests biomechanical benefits only emerge beyond a plate–bone ratio of ~80%.
• Working length increased from 9.4 mm (6-hole) to 13 mm (others), potentially influencing strain/stiffness differences.
• Four-point bending was used, as it replicates the most biomechanically relevant force on plated long bones.
• Clinical implication: Longer plates may reduce plate strain and peri-implant bone strain, potentially lowering risk of fatigue failure or stress risers.

🔍 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

• CESF with distraction osteogenesis restored elbow congruity and normalized aLDRA in skeletally immature dogs with PCDRP.
• Radial head subluxation was eliminated in all dogs, and elbow incongruity reduced significantly (from 6.1 mm to 0.3 mm, p <.01).
• Mean radial lengthening of 22.6 mm (∼11% of normal length) was achieved, but only 80% of recorded distraction translated to length gain.
• Major complications occurred in 2/12 dogs: one with permanent carpal contracture, one with radial fracture at wire tract.
• Minor complications (e.g., carpal pain, restricted extension, synostosis, pin tract issues) were noted in 10/12 dogs but generally resolved.
• Owner surveys (8/12 dogs) reported good to excellent long-term function, even up to 6 years post-op.
• Radial valgus deformities were moderate (mean 15°) and less severe than deformities from ulnar physeal closure.
• Surgical strategy included staged distraction, with radial or combined radius/ulna distraction guided by fluoroscopy and adjusted per case.

🔍 Key Findings

• 12-hole LCPs (80% plate–bone ratio) showed significantly higher construct stiffness than 6-, 8-, or 10-hole plates in both compression and tension bending.
• Strain on the plate was significantly lower in 12-hole vs 6-hole plates at all regions of interest (ROIs), especially around the fracture gap.
• No incremental increases in stiffness or decreases in strain were observed between 6-, 8-, and 10-hole plates—only when comparing to 12-hole plates.
• Bone model strain adjacent to the plate end was significantly lower for 10- and 12-hole plates vs 6-hole plates under both loading conditions.
• The threshold effect suggests biomechanical benefits only emerge beyond a plate–bone ratio of ~80%.
• Working length increased from 9.4 mm (6-hole) to 13 mm (others), potentially influencing strain/stiffness differences.
• Four-point bending was used, as it replicates the most biomechanically relevant force on plated long bones.
• Clinical implication: Longer plates may reduce plate strain and peri-implant bone strain, potentially lowering risk of fatigue failure or stress risers.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• F + P (forceps + plate compression) achieved the most uniform, high-pressure distribution across all quadrants.
• Kern forceps alone concentrated force in craniomedial quadrant, reducing caudal compression.
• Combining Kern + F improved craniolateral compression but did not restore caudal compression.
• Plate compression alone yielded caudal bias, not uniform pressure.
• Significant inter-method variation in quadrant-specific compression confirmed via ANOVA (p < 0.001 for all quadrants).

🔍 Key Findings

• Modified subdural shunt (SDS) placement was adapted from prior techniques using a hemilaminectomy approach and no suturing of the dura or shunt.
• Dogs receiving SDS had significantly better long-term outcomes (85.7% improved) compared to those with durotomy alone (41.7%).
• Recurrence rate was lower in the SDS group (14.3%) than control (41.7%), though not statistically significant.
• Most recurrences occurred in Pugs (5/7), suggesting a breed predisposition.
• Shunt size was limited to 25% of spinal cord diameter, typically 3–3.5 Fr.
• CSF flow through the shunt was confirmed intraoperatively, supporting the role of SDS in maintaining flow and possibly preventing recurrence.
• Immediate postoperative outcomes were not different between groups (≈42% deteriorated), but long-term recovery was better with SDS.
• Steroid use pre-surgery did not correlate with improved outcome; fewer SDS dogs received steroids pre-op.