🔍 Key Findings

Population: 24 dogs (<8.5 months) undergoing unilateral cementless THR.
Growth Impact:

• Operated femurs showed ~11.5% less trochanteric growth than controls (p = .002).
• No significant difference in femoral diaphyseal + epiphyseal length (p = .712) or femur overall (p = .465).

Cortical Width:

• Increased significantly at 10 mm distal to trochanter (4.6% increase, p = .037) and at 50% femoral length (8.5% increase, p = .030).

Clinical relevance: Despite measurable changes, no clinically significant impairment to femoral length occurred.
Effect Sizes:

• Moderate negative for trochanteric growth.
• Moderate positive for proximal femoral width.

🔍 Key Findings

• Study population: 116 dogs underwent cementless THR; grouped by age:
  • Group A: ≤6 months (n = 27)
  • Group B: >6 to ≤12 months (n = 41)
  • Group C: >12 months (n = 48)
• Overall perioperative complication rate: 31.9% (37/116)
  • Group A: 22.2%
  • Group B: 26.8%
  • Group C: 41.7%
• No significant difference in total complication rate by age (p = .207), though older dogs (Group C) had numerically higher rates.
• Luxation was significantly more common in dogs >12 months:
  • Group C: 14.6% vs. Group A (0%) and Group B (2.4%) → p = .049
• Most common complications: luxation (9.5%) and intraoperative fissure or fracture (9.5%)
• Time under anesthesia and surgery duration were not associated with complication risk (p = .297 and p = .781)
• No infections or aseptic loosening observed during the 8-week follow-up.

🔍 Key Findings

• Two-pin fixation had significantly greater strength (639 N) than single-pin fixation (426 N) in TTAF models (p = .003).
• Stiffness was also higher with two-pin constructs (72 N/mm vs 57 N/mm); statistically significant (p = .029).
• Both fixation types withstood loads greater than quadriceps force in dogs at a walk (240 N), indicating clinical viability.
• Failure was most commonly due to pin bending or pullout (82%), with fewer cases of ligament tearing or epiphyseal fracture.
• K-wire insertion angle (KWIA) did not significantly differ between fixation types (p = .13).
• Single larger pins delivered ~68% of the strength and ~83% of the stiffness of two smaller vertically aligned pins.
• Clinical implication: Two vertically aligned pins are biomechanically superior for TTAF fixation in canine models.
• Study used mature cadavers, which may underestimate loads and stiffness compared to immature clinical cases.

🔍 Key Findings

Internal fixation (IF) group (n=59):

• Complication rate: 20.3%
• Major complications: 15.3%
• Longer time to discharge if complications occurred (median: 12.5 weeks)

External skeletal fixation (ESF) group (n=36):

• Complication rate: 55.6% (p < .001 vs IF)
• Major complications: 52.8%
• Most common issue: pin tract morbidity

Multivariable analysis:

• Use of IF significantly reduced odds of complications (OR 0.23, p = .004)
• Use of post-op antibiotics associated with increased odds of complications (OR 3.53, p = .028)

Fixation choice influenced by age:

• Older puppies more likely to receive IF (OR 1.25 per week increase in age, p < .001)

Breed & fracture distribution:

• Common breeds: Labrador, Border Collie, Whippet
• Common fracture sites: middle and proximal third of tibia

🔍 Key Findings

• Precontoured plates based on 3D-printed femurs produced accurate femoral alignment (median deviations <3 mm or <3° in all planes).
• Both fracture reduction system (FRS) and intramedullary pin (IMP) methods achieved near-anatomic alignment in cadaveric femoral fractures.
• FRS required fewer fluoroscopic images (median 7 vs. 26, P = .001), but longer surgical time (median 43 vs. 29 min, P = .011).
• Sagittal plane alignment: FRS led to mild increased recurvatum (median 2.9°), but still within near-anatomic limits (<5°).
• Axial alignment: Both groups achieved near-anatomic torsion (<10°), though one IMP case had acceptable (not near-anatomic) alignment.
• Custom drill guides and FRS improved fluoroscopy efficiency but were cumbersome and time-consuming to use. Authors do not recommend current prototype for clinical use.
• Clinical significance: 3D printed models allow accurate precontouring, reducing intra-op plate adjustment; custom guides may reduce radiation exposure for the surgical team.

🔍 Key Findings

• CBLO was effective for stifle stabilization in skeletally immature dogs with CrCL injuries, avoiding disruption of proximal tibial growth plates.
• Radiographic union of the osteotomy occurred in a mean of 6 weeks (range: 4–8 weeks), indicating rapid bone healing.
• Full limb function was restored in all cases by long-term follow-up (mean 23 months), including dogs with initial complications.
• Two dogs developed 19° valgus deformities due to screw interference with the proximal tibial physis; both were corrected surgically with return to function.
• One dog developed 10° recurvatum due to over-rotation of the tibial plateau, but retained full function without revision.
• CCS (countersink compression screw) caused early apophyseal closure in older dogs but had no adverse clinical effects.
• In contrast, K-wire or plate-only fixation preserved open apophysis, suggesting implant choice may influence growth.
• No meniscal injuries were observed, and all CrCL injuries were managed arthroscopically — 6 complete, 6 partial, 4 avulsions.

🔍 Key Findings

• Lateral humeral condylar fractures (LHCF) were most common, comprising 63.6% of cases.
• Transcondylar screw (TCS) + K-wire(s) fixation had a 7.62x higher risk of major complications compared to other methods (p = .009).
• All cases of TCS migration occurred in the TCS + K-wire group; none occurred with plate fixation.
• Overall complication rate was 40.9%, with 29.5% being major and requiring intervention.
• Contralateral humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) were found in 58.1% of French Bulldogs with CT data.
• No significant association between age and presence of HIF, but fissure length increased with age (R = 0.47, p = .048).
• Younger, lighter dogs had higher complication and screw migration rates, possibly due to softer bone and smaller condyles.
• TCS + plate fixation had the lowest complication rate, suggesting biomechanical superiority.

🔍 Key Findings

• Refracture occurred in 5.5% of limbs, with higher incidence in the plate removal group (12.5%) vs. non-removal (3.5%).
• In the non-plate removal group, refractures occurred at the most distal screw site, linked to greater screw position change during growth (OR 1.79, p=0.04).
• Screw-to-bone diameter ratio (SBDR) >0.4 was a significant risk factor for refracture in the plate retention group.
• In the plate removal group, refractures occurred at the original fracture site, associated with lower pixel value ratio (bone mineral density) and reduced radial thickness.
• Implant-induced osteoporosis (IIO) beneath the plate likely contributed to refracture risk after plate removal.
• Younger age at fracture (<6 months) was associated with higher refracture risk due to ongoing radial growth and shifting screw position.
• No significant association was found between refracture and plate type (locking vs conventional), fixation method, or ulnar union.
• Recommendations include careful SBDR sizing, motion restriction, and cautious plate removal decisions in growing dogs.

🔍 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 Summary

• Sample: 124 dogs (64 S, 60 FFP); French Bulldogs most common (54/124)
• Pre-op clinical signs: Exercise intolerance (34/124), stertor (22), regurgitation (7), vomiting (12)
• Operative time (no concurrent procedure): Longer in FFP (75 vs 51 min, p = .02)
• Anesthetic time: Longer in FFP (111 vs 80 min, p = .02)
• Anesthetic complications: Similar rates (FFP 50, S 49; p = .30)
• Post-op regurgitation: 27/124 (S: 17, FFP: 10; p = .18)
• Post-op aspiration pneumonia: Rare (S: 4, FFP: 5)
• Major complications: Rare (5/124); 2 dogs euthanized post-op (1 per group)
• Revision surgery: Needed in 7/124 (3 S, 4 FFP)