Quiz Question
In Fitzpatrick 2024 et al., on ESF for pelvic fractures in cats, what was reported regarding the need for revision surgery?
🔍 Key Findings
- External skeletal fixation (ESF) was successfully applied to a variety of pelvic fracture types in cats, including sacroiliac luxations and ilial body fractures.
- All fractures achieved radiographic union within 9 weeks, even in comminuted or complex configurations.
- No intraoperative or long-term complications were reported during the study period.
- Implant loosening was observed radiographically in 13% of cases, with 8% of pins found to be loose at frame removal.
- ESF enabled indirect fracture reduction using components as handles, with a limited open approach minimizing soft tissue disruption.
- No iatrogenic neurological deficits were observed, supporting safe pin placement near neurovascular structures, although some cats presented with pre-existing neurologic signs.
- No cases required revision surgery, and all cats underwent stabilization solely with ESF as per study inclusion criteria.
- Postoperative hospitalization ranged from 2 to 5 days, though no comparison to other fixation types was evaluated.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2024
External skeletal fixation for the treatment of pelvic fractures in cats
2024-7-VS-fitzpatrick-5
In Nicolas 2024 et al., what surgical technique was used to decompress the foramen at T1–2?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- The lateral approach via scapular osteotomy allowed safe access to the T1-2 foramen in a French Bulldog with foraminal disc extrusion.
- A mini-hemilaminectomy was performed, preserving articular facets.
- The dog had no neurologic deficits postoperatively, returned to ambulation within 24 hours, and was discharged in 3 days.
- At 10 months, CT confirmed excellent scapular healing and no recurrence.
- Double 2.4-mm locking plates provided stable fixation across the scapular spine.
- The technique avoided thoracic entry or dorsal spine dissection, suggesting a less invasive alternative for select T1-2 foraminal cases.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
2
2024
Scapular Osteotomy for Lateral Access to a T1-2 Foraminal Disc Extrusion, Treated by Mini-Hemilaminectomy in a Dog
2024-2-VCOT-nicolas-5
In Hanlon 2022 et al., on short screw sacroiliac fixation, what complication was observed in some short screw cases?
🔍 Key Findings
- Two short screws (SLS or SPS) provided >2× peak load, yield load, and stiffness vs a single long screw (LLS) for SI joint stabilization.
- No mechanical advantage was seen between the two short screw types (lag vs positional).
- All short screws terminated lateral to the spinal canal, avoiding spinal impingement.
- Ventral sacral foraminal impingement occurred in 3 short-screw cases (1 SPS, 2 SLS), all involving the caudal screw.
- LLS group showed more abaxial displacement at osteotomy sites, suggesting inferior stabilization for concurrent pelvic fractures.
- Short screw constructs had longer total screw length (48 mm) than LLS (40 mm), contributing to increased stiffness.
- Positioning of caudal screw in a cranial/craniodorsal trajectory may help avoid nerve foraminal injury.
- No significant difference in displacement at peak load among groups; stiffness and load capacity were the primary benefits.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2022
Mechanical evaluation of canine sacroiliac joint stabilization using two short screws
2022-7-VS-hanlon-4
In Kang 2024 et al., on sacroiliac fixation strength, what was the primary failure mode for the double 2.3-mm HCS group?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- 20 cats with pelvic fractures treated using locking plates with only cortical screws
- 28 fractures stabilized (ilium: 17, acetabulum: 6, ischium: 3, pubis: 2)
- Implants: Primarily 1.5/2.0 mm LCPs or String-of-Pearls plates
- Major complications in 2/20 cases (10%): sciatic entrapment, malunion requiring THA
- Minor complications in 2/20 cases (10%): plate impingement, transient lameness
- Clinical union in all cats by 8 weeks; all cats returned to full function
- Authors conclude cortical screws alone can provide adequate fixation in feline pelvic fractures if screw purchase and bone quality are sufficient
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
1
2024
Biomechanical Comparison of Double 2.3-mm Headless Cannulated Self-Compression Screws and Single 3.5-mm Cortical Screw in Lag Fashion in a Canine Sacroiliac Luxation Model
2024-1-VCOT-kang-2
In Woelfel 2022 et al., on cervical locked facets, which best describes the neurologic pattern often observed?
🔍 Key Findings
- Locked facet injuries in dogs involved unilateral dorsal displacement of the cranial articular process of the caudal vertebra, most commonly at C5/6 or C6/7.
- All affected dogs were small/toy breeds, typically following trauma (most often attacks by larger dogs).
- Neurologic severity ranged from ambulatory tetraparesis to tetraplegia, often with thoracic limb deficits more severe than pelvic limbs — suggesting a central cord syndrome-like pattern.
- CT and MRI revealed axial rotation, subluxation, and articular process displacement; MRI showed T2 hyperintensity, nerve root impingement, and soft tissue changes.
- Surgical treatment included ventral fixation with screws, pins, and PMMA, and one case required dorsal facetectomy for reduction.
- Medical management, including external coaptation or rest, also resulted in functional recovery in select cases.
- All dogs with follow-up data (8/8) had functional recovery, with nonambulatory dogs regaining ambulation in a median of 4 weeks.
- No consistent differences in outcome were observed between surgical and nonsurgical management, suggesting locked facets may be biomechanically stable.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Subaxial cervical articular process subluxation and dislocation: Cervical locked facet injuries in dogs
2022-1-VS-woelfel-4
In Papacella-Beugger 2024 et al., on neuronavigation, what percentage of screws were deemed appropriately placed?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Cadaveric study using 3 miniature breed dogs (6 hemipelves) to assess spinal neuronavigation accuracy for lumbar plate fixation
- 20 screws placed using CBCT-based navigation with real-time tracking
- 85% (17/20) of screws were safely and accurately placed
- Median deviation of screw entry points from plan: 1.8 mm
- All 3 misplaced screws occurred in a single cadaver, attributed to inexperienced drill handling
- Custom 3D-printed lightweight tracking array was necessary due to small spinous processes in miniature dogs
- No iatrogenic canal perforations or vertebral damage in any specimen
- Concludes neuronavigation offers precise, safe placement of spinal implants in small dogs, with minimal anatomic disruption
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
6
2024
Spinal Neuronavigation for Lumbar Plate Fixation in Miniature Breed Dogs
2024-6-VCOT-papacella-beugger-1
In Perez Neto 2025 et al., on hip resurfacing arthroplasty, what was the impact of implant positioning (neutral vs valgus) on biomechanical performance?
🔍 Key Findings
- In an ex vivo study of 20 canine femur pairs, implantation of a novel hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) prosthesis reduced maximum load (ML) by 22% and load at collapse (LC) by 27% vs. intact controls (p ≤ 0.05).
- Displacement at maximum load (DML), displacement at collapse (DC), and stiffness (k) were not significantly different between prosthesis and control groups.
- Both groups showed similar failure patterns, with 92% failing at the femoral neck.
- All prosthetic femurs still withstood ~6.2× body weight — exceeding estimated in vivo peak loads (~1.64× BW).
- Prosthesis positioning (neutral vs valgus) had no significant effect on biomechanical outcomes.
- Implant design preserved more metaphyseal bone stock than total hip replacement, possibly explaining the smaller load reduction compared to other short-stem prostheses.
- The press-fit cobalt–chromium design with conical stem allowed full contact and stress distribution over the femoral head/neck.
- Authors conclude the device has adequate immediate biomechanical strength for clinical use, though long-term in vivo studies are needed.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
4
2025
Biomechanical Evaluation of a Femoral Implant for Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty in Dogs: An Ex Vivo Study
2025-4-VCOT-perezneto-5
In Woelfel 2022 et al., on cervical locked facets, what was the most common inciting cause?
🔍 Key Findings
- Locked facet injuries in dogs involved unilateral dorsal displacement of the cranial articular process of the caudal vertebra, most commonly at C5/6 or C6/7.
- All affected dogs were small/toy breeds, typically following trauma (most often attacks by larger dogs).
- Neurologic severity ranged from ambulatory tetraparesis to tetraplegia, often with thoracic limb deficits more severe than pelvic limbs — suggesting a central cord syndrome-like pattern.
- CT and MRI revealed axial rotation, subluxation, and articular process displacement; MRI showed T2 hyperintensity, nerve root impingement, and soft tissue changes.
- Surgical treatment included ventral fixation with screws, pins, and PMMA, and one case required dorsal facetectomy for reduction.
- Medical management, including external coaptation or rest, also resulted in functional recovery in select cases.
- All dogs with follow-up data (8/8) had functional recovery, with nonambulatory dogs regaining ambulation in a median of 4 weeks.
- No consistent differences in outcome were observed between surgical and nonsurgical management, suggesting locked facets may be biomechanically stable.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Subaxial cervical articular process subluxation and dislocation: Cervical locked facet injuries in dogs
2022-1-VS-woelfel-3
In Guevara 2024 et al., on implant placement accuracy, what was considered an acceptable placement grade using the modified Zdichavsky classification?
🔍 Key Findings:
- Sample: 24 canine cadavers, 477 total pins across 240 vertebrae.
- Technique Comparison: 3D printed guides (3DPG) vs freehand (FH).
- Acceptable Placement Rates: 3DPG = 87.5%, FH = 69.8% (p < .0001).
- Odds Ratio for FH: 0.28 (95% CI 0.16–0.47), significantly less likely to yield acceptable placement.
- Worst Accuracy Locations: T10 (OR 0.10), T11 (OR 0.35).
- Surgeon Impact: Surgeon 2 outperformed others (OR 9.61, p = .001).
- Modified Zdichavsky Classification used to score implant accuracy (Grades I–IIIb).
- Primary Benefit of 3DPG: Increased safety and precision, regardless of surgeon experience.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Ex vivo comparison of pin placement with patient-specific drill guides or freehand technique in canine cadaveric spines
2024-2-VS-guevara-4
In Dalton 2023 et al., In Minimally invasive acetabular fracture repair in dogs, what was the clinical outcome of the Chihuahua case treated with minimally invasive acetabular repair?
🔍 Key Findings
- Feasibility study in 5 canine cadavers plus 1 clinical case (Chihuahua, 5.5 kg).
- Technique used two small approaches (caudal and craniolateral) connected with an epiperiosteal tunnel.
- Plates were precontoured on mirrored 3D-printed hemipelves to improve fit and reduce intraoperative bending.
- Cadaver outcomes: fracture gap <2 mm, step defect <1 mm, pelvic angulation <5°.
- Sciatic nerve injury was minimal: 1/5 cadavers had a mild indentation; others had no gross injury.
- Median total surgical time: ~46 minutes in cadavers; incisions ~5 cm.
- Clinical Chihuahua case: weight-bearing within 24 hrs, radiographic union at 3 months; one screw fractured but no adverse effect.
- Authors conclude: MIAF with 3D printing is feasible and accurate, but requires further evaluation before routine use.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2023
Minimally invasive repair of acetabular fractures in dogs: Ex vivo feasibility study and case report
2023-7-VS-dalton-5
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings