← Articles

Evers et al: Accuracy of needle arthroscopy for the diagnosis of medial meniscal tears in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2023

🔍 Key Findings

  • Needle arthroscopy (NA) had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting medial meniscal tears using standard arthroscopy (SA) as the reference.
  • NA correctly identified meniscal status in 25/26 dogs, missing only one stable nondisplaced tear.
  • NA took less time than SA: 8 ± 3 min vs. 15 ± 9 min (P = .0041).
  • Visibility scores were significantly lower with NA than SA for all meniscal horns (medial and lateral) .
  • Probing difficulty was greater with NA, especially for the lateral meniscus (P = .0017).
  • NA caused no measurable morbidity: lameness scores were unchanged before and after the procedure (P = .25).
  • NA was possible in sedated dogs, though 10/26 required additional anesthesia due to delays.
  • NA missed 1 lateral tear, likely due to reduced access and lack of shaving compared to SA.

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

How critical is this paper for crushing the Boards?

🚨 Must-know. I’d bet on seeing this.

📚 Useful background, not must-know.

💤 Skip it. Doubt it’ll ever show up.

Thanks for the feedback!
‍We'll keep fine-tuning the articles vault.
Oops — didn’t go through.
‍Mind trying that again?
← Articles

Evers et al: Accuracy of needle arthroscopy for the diagnosis of medial meniscal tears in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2023

🔍 Key Findings

  • Needle arthroscopy (NA) had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for detecting medial meniscal tears using standard arthroscopy (SA) as the reference.
  • NA correctly identified meniscal status in 25/26 dogs, missing only one stable nondisplaced tear.
  • NA took less time than SA: 8 ± 3 min vs. 15 ± 9 min (P = .0041).
  • Visibility scores were significantly lower with NA than SA for all meniscal horns (medial and lateral) .
  • Probing difficulty was greater with NA, especially for the lateral meniscus (P = .0017).
  • NA caused no measurable morbidity: lameness scores were unchanged before and after the procedure (P = .25).
  • NA was possible in sedated dogs, though 10/26 required additional anesthesia due to delays.
  • NA missed 1 lateral tear, likely due to reduced access and lack of shaving compared to SA.

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

Join Now to Access Key Summaries to more Veterinary Surgery Articles!
Log InSign Up

Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy, what was the average time for needle arthroscopy compared to standard arthroscopy?

A. Needle: 5 min, Standard: 12 min
B. Needle: 10 min, Standard: 20 min
C. Needle: 8 min, Standard: 15 min
D. Needle: 6 min, Standard: 18 min
E. Needle: 9 min, Standard: 14 min

Answer: Needle: 8 min, Standard: 15 min

Explanation: Needle arthroscopy averaged 8 ± 3 minutes vs. 15 ± 9 for standard arthroscopy (*P = .0041*).
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy, which meniscal tear was missed by needle arthroscopy?

A. A bucket-handle tear of the lateral meniscus
B. A stable nondisplaced medial meniscal tear
C. A complex degenerative medial tear
D. A vertical lateral tear
E. None were missed

Answer: A stable nondisplaced medial meniscal tear

Explanation: The only miss was a stable nondisplaced medial tear—likely subtle on visualization.
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy, what was observed about morbidity following needle arthroscopy?

A. Increased lameness at 1 week
B. Delayed healing in >20% of cases
C. No measurable morbidity
D. High postoperative effusion
E. Occasional need for analgesia beyond 5 days

Answer: No measurable morbidity

Explanation: Lameness scores did not change post-procedure (*P = .25*), indicating excellent tolerance.
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy, what was the reported sensitivity for detecting medial meniscal tears?

A. 80%
B. 85%
C. 90%
D. 95%
E. 100%

Answer: 95%

Explanation: Needle arthroscopy had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity using standard arthroscopy as the reference.
In Evers 2023 et al., on needle arthroscopy, what was a common limitation of needle arthroscopy compared to standard arthroscopy?

A. Higher infection rate
B. Uncontrolled bleeding
C. Poor visualization of meniscal horns
D. More sedation needed
E. Less access to the cranial cruciate ligament

Answer: Poor visualization of meniscal horns

Explanation: Visibility scores were significantly lower for needle arthroscopy across all meniscal regions.

Elevate Your Infection Control Protocol

Implement Simini Protect Lavage for superior, clinically-proven post-operative skin antisepsis and reduced infection risk.

Start Your Free Trial TodayStart Your Free Trial

Review More Key Summaries from this Veterinary Surgery Journal Issue

Ritson

 et al: 

Ex vivo comparative evaluation of feline hilar lung lobectomy using linear stapler, pretied ligature loop, and double-shank titanium clips

Buote

 et al: 

Laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy in felines: A cadaveric feasibility study and experimental case series in two cats

Marshall

 et al: 

Delayed union, non-union and mal-union in 442 dogs

Davies

 et al: 

Lymphaticovenous anastomosis of the caudal thoracic duct to the azygous vein: A feline cadaver study

Jeong

 et al: 

Evaluation of a contoured saw guide for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs