
Quiz Question
In Carwardine 2024 et al., on screw placement in HIF, which placement direction was associated with a significantly higher complication rate?
🔍 Key Findings
- 73 elbows (52 dogs) underwent randomized medial or lateral transcondylar screw placement for HIF.
- Lateral-to-medial placement resulted in a significantly higher rate of complications (62.2%) vs medial-to-lateral (19.4%) (p = .001).
- Odds ratio for complications: 6.11 (95% CI: 2.13–17.52).
- Most common complications: seromas (n = 13), surgical site infections (n = 16).
- Implants with lower AMI/bodyweight were significantly associated with major complications (p = .037).
- Only 4 procedures (5%) required revision surgery (major type I complications), with no difference by screw direction.
- NNT = 2.3 for medial placement to prevent one complication.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Medial versus lateral transcondylar screw placement for canine humeral intracondylar fissures: A randomized clinical trial
2024-2-VS-carwardine-1
In Espinel Rupérez 2023 et al., in Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization in cats, what percentage of joints experienced intraoperative complications?
🔍 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-2
In Schuenemann 2025 et al., on biceps tenodesis, which complication occurred with the use of the tendon clamp?
🔍 Key Findings
- Case series of 6 shoulders in 5 working/sporting dogs. Conditions treated: 3 partial biceps ruptures, 3 luxations with fraying.
- All treated with biceps tenodesis using a bioabsorbable anchor (Weldix 2.3 mm).
- All dogs returned to function (some to high-level sports); lameness resolved within 1–5 weeks.
- No implant-related complications with anchor-only cases. One dog had seroma and later infection but recovered.
- Tendon clamp (used in 2 cases) caused irritation in one dog → resolved after removal.
- CT follow-up confirmed integrity; drill holes filled with bone.
- Median LOAD score: 12; higher in older dogs or with concurrent conditions.
- Authors suggest tenodesis offers more stability and faster return to function than tenotomy in working dogs.
- Larger, controlled studies are recommended.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2025
Biceps tenodesis with a bioabsorbable bone anchor using BoneWelding technology: Results in six clinical cases (5 dogs)
2025-4-VS-schuenemann-3
In Thibault 2023 et al., on DPO for THR luxation, what was the most common long-term outcome observed after performing DPO to manage craniodorsal luxation in dogs?
2023-8-VS-thibault-1
In Perry 2025 et al., on I-Loc fracture fixation, which factor most increased the risk of surgical site infection and implant removal?
🔍 Key Findings
- High union rate with low complications was achieved using the I-Loc angle-stable interlocking nail across 243 canine long-bone fractures.
- Mean time to clinical union was 8.3 weeks, faster than many historical plate-rod or non-angle-stable nail reports.
- Major complications occurred in only 5.3% and minor complications in 9.1% of cases.
- Most fractures were diaphyseal (75%) and comminuted (62%), demonstrating effectiveness in complex fracture patterns.
- Ancillary implants were uncommon (21%), mainly used in epi-/metaphyseal fractures or for anatomic reconstruction.
- Postoperative missed bolt rate was very low (0.94%), reflecting improved targeting accuracy.
- Open fractures carried a substantially higher risk of SSI and implant removal compared with closed fractures.
- Prebending of tibial nails was strongly recommended to follow natural recurvatum and avoid iatrogenic alignment errors.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2025
Outcomes of 243 dogs with traumatic fractures treated with the I-Loc interlocking nail
2025-8-VS-perry-4
In Isono 2025 et al., on tibial malalignment in MPL, which finding best characterized grade 4 medial patellar luxation?
🔍 Key Findings
- Proximal Tibia Metatarsal Angle (PTMTA) was significantly increased in dogs with grade 3 and 4 MPL, making it a useful marker for severity.
- PTMTA strongly correlated with Tibial Torsion Angle (TTA) (r = 0.733) and Crural Rotation Angle (CRA) (r = 0.643), integrating multiple morphological deformities.
- Grade 4 MPL cases showed significant internal tibial torsion, increased mMPTA, and decreased MDTT/PTW—indicating both rotation and medial displacement.
- DTMTA was significantly more negative in grade 4, indicating a consistent pattern of internal foot rotation with disease severity.
- PTMTA can be visually assessed during palpation, offering preoperative utility without CT.
- Among toy poodles, PTMTA showed significant differences even between grades 3 and normal, suggesting breed-specific severity patterns.
- Corrective osteotomy may need to address tibial as well as femoral deformities in severe MPL cases with high PTMTA.
- Younger dogs with grade 4 MPL had more severe deformities, possibly due to early onset or developmental progression.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
4
2025
Tibial Torsion Malalignment in Small Dogs with Medial Patellar Luxation
2025-4-VCOT-isono-2
In Longo 2022 et al., on CT-guided osteotomies, what was associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative complications?
🔍 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.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2022
Three‐dimensional volume rendering planning, surgical treatment, and clinical outcomes for femoral and tibial detorsional osteotomies in dogs
2022-7-VS-longo-3
In Paulick 2022 et al., on feline ilial plating, which implant system demonstrated the **lowest bending stiffness** under cyclic loading?
🔍 Key Findings
- Locking plates (except ALPS-5) withstood significantly more cycles before failure than nonlocking DCP constructs.
- ALPS-6.5, LCP, and FIXIN plates endured higher loads and resisted displacement better than DCP and ALPS-5.
- ALPS-5 plates showed lower bending stiffness than all other constructs (P < .05).
- DCP constructs failed due to screw loosening, seen in all specimens.
- Locking constructs failed by bone slicing, affecting 100% of specimens.
- Catastrophic implant failure (fracture or plastic deformation) occurred only in ALPS-5 group.
- Plate size and screw-plate interface both influence resistance to cyclic loading in feline ilial fracture repair.
- Locking plates are preferable for reducing screw pullout, but plate strength (e.g., cross-section) must match loading forces.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Ex vivo comparison of lateral plate repairs of experimental oblique ilial fractures in cats
2022-1-VS-paulick-1
In Whyte 2025 et al., on cannulated screw fixation, what percentage of patients experienced any form of complication?
🔍 Key Findings
Study focus: Outcomes of cannulated screw fixation in unicondylar humeral condylar fractures (UHCF) in dogs.
Clinical union rate: 89%
Overall complication rate: 36%
- Major complication: Most common was screw breakage
Significant risk factor for screw breakage:
- Body weight >20 kg (statistically significant)
Breed distribution:
- Spaniels, especially English Springer Spaniels, were most common
No mention of plate augmentation as standard in this cohort
Veterinary Surgery
2
2025
Use of cannulated screws in the treatment of unicondylar humeral condylar fractures in dogs
2025-2-VS-whyte-3
In Hoenecke 2025 et al., on radiographic opacity in patella luxation, what percentage of dogs with long-term follow-up developed subsequent CCL rupture?
🔍 Key Findings
- 65% of stifles with patella luxation and intact CCLs had increased radiographic soft tissue opacity
- Weight and radiographic OA were significantly associated with increased opacity (p = .0029 and p = .0143)
- Each 1 kg increase in weight increased the odds of opacity by 10%
- Grade of patella luxation, age, and muscle atrophy were not significantly associated with increased opacity
- 19% of dogs with long-term follow-up developed a CCL rupture post-patella surgery, 50% of those had opacity at initial presentation
- Radiographic opacity alone should not be interpreted as CCL disease in dogs with patella luxation
- Radiographic findings likely represent effusion or synovial hyperplasia, not CCL pathology
- Arthrotomy was used to confirm CCL integrity at surgery, but arthroscopy could provide better sensitivity
Veterinary Surgery
7
2025
Increased radiographic stifle soft tissue opacity in dogs with patella luxation
2025-7-VS-hoenecke-4
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings
