🔍 Key Findings

Design: Ex vivo cadaver study (n=8 dogs, 24 sites)
Comparison: Freehand vs. 3D-printed drill guide-assisted ventral slot (GAVS vs FHVS)
Findings:

• GAVS produced slots not significantly different from planned dimensions (p = .722–.875)
• FHVS produced significantly shorter slots than intended (p < .01)
• No difference in surgical time (p = .071)
• Shape ratio and slot divergence from midline were similar between groups (p > .4)
• Use of guide significantly reduced variability in slot position (63% → 29%), shape (65% → 24%), and divergence (54% → 50%)

Conclusion: 3D-printed guides improved accuracy and consistency of ventral slot creation by novice surgeons; supports future evaluation in live dogs and small breeds

🔍 Key Findings

• Bone-to-tendon plate fixation allowed successful stabilization of a highly comminuted calcaneus fracture in a dog with fragments too small for traditional fixation.
• The plate was sutured to the common calcaneal tendon using a figure-of-8 pattern, bypassing the need for screw fixation into small proximal fragments.
• Radiographic union was achieved by 17 weeks, though considered delayed, with the dog returning to normal function by 36 weeks post-op.
• A second surgery was required to replace the tendon-anchored plate with a calcaneus-only plate due to skin ulceration and implant prominence.
• Implant-associated infection was suspected; cultures confirmed Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, managed with doxycycline and clindamycin.
• Use of human placental matrix (hPM) and both autogenous and allogenic bone grafts supported healing, though their specific contribution remains uncertain.
• Postoperative complications included delayed union and skin ulceration, emphasizing challenges of implant design and soft tissue management.
• This is the first report of using a bone-to-tendon plate for a calcaneus fracture in dogs and demonstrates its potential in cases where traditional methods are not viable.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• Mitral valve plasty (MVP) in dogs with MMVD significantly reduced regurgitant volume and fraction, and normalized LA:Ao ratio, indicating reversal of volume overload.
• MVP altered mitral valve geometry, with reduced annular dimensions and increased coaptation length, enhancing valve competence.
• Postoperative LA:Ao ratio dropped from 2.2 to 1.2, consistent with improved left atrial pressure and size.
• Forward stroke volume index and cardiac index increased at 3 months, reflecting improved hemodynamic function despite reduced fractional shortening.
• Three dogs (3.9%) died postoperatively, highlighting a 96.1% survival rate within 3 months.
• The repair technique involved artificial chordal replacement and annuloplasty; no cleft closure or leaflet suturing was used.
• Color Doppler echocardiography confirmed substantial reduction in mitral regurgitation postoperatively in most dogs.

🔍 Key Findings

140 laparoscopic surgeons surveyed; 37% reported at least one musculoskeletal disorder.
Women had significantly higher odds of reporting WRMD (OR = 2.59, p = .011).
Smaller glove size significantly associated with WRMD (p = .001), shoulder tendonitis (p = .01), and neck strain (p = .001).
Most common injuries: Neck strain (35%), shoulder tendonitis (31%).
WRMD was associated with greater difficulty using:

• Rotating cup biopsy forceps (p < .001)
• Vessel sealing device and endo stapler (especially in those with shoulder injuries)

No significant association with surgeon age, dominant hand, height, weight, or case volume.

🔍 Key Findings

• Cranial drawer (CD), tibial compression (TCT), and tibial pivot compression test (TPCT) showed 100% sensitivity and specificity in differentiating intact from CCL-deficient stifles in this ex vivo model.
• TPCT elicited the highest cranial tibial translation (CTT) and internal tibial rotation, though differences in rotation did not reach statistical significance.
• Inter- and intraobserver agreement for CTT was excellent across all tests (ICC >0.9).
• Rotation and force application had greater variability, particularly with less experienced observers and during CD.
• Forces applied during CD were significantly higher in intact limbs and correlated with observer experience.
• Subjective CTT estimates strongly correlated with objective kinematic measurements (r = 0.895), with a median absolute error of 1.31 mm.
• TPCT may be particularly useful for assessing rotational instability, mimicking the pivot-shift test used in human ACL exams.
• Study supports development of a grading system for manual laxity testing, especially in acute CCLR cases.

🔍 Key Findings

• Needle arthroscopy (NA) had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosing medial meniscal tears in dogs with CCLR.
• NA missed 1 medial and 1 lateral meniscal tear, both nondisplaced and stable.
• Visibility of all meniscal horns was significantly lower with NA compared to standard arthroscopy (SA) (P < .005 for all horns).
• Probing the caudal horn of the lateral meniscus was significantly more difficult with NA (P = .0017), though medial horn probing was similar.
• Mean NA procedure time was 8 ± 3 minutes, significantly shorter than SA (15 ± 9 min, P = .0041).
• No increase in lameness observed after NA, indicating minimal procedural morbidity.
• NA was performed under sedation in most dogs, though 10/26 required additional chemical restraint or short anesthesia.
• NA was most accurate for displaced vertical longitudinal tears, with all 14 correctly identified; one stable tear and a lateral tear were missed.

🔍 Key Findings

• Buccal transposition flap provided successful closure of large maxillary lip defects in all 5 dogs
• All flaps survived, with 3 dogs experiencing minor complications (e.g., fistulas, dehiscence) that resolved
• Flap vascularization originated from the angularis oris and superior labial arteries, as confirmed via CT angiography
• Excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes were achieved in all cases
• Ex vivo cadaver study validated flap perfusion, showing consistent contrast filling of key arteries
• Oronasal fistulas occurred in 2 dogs at the palatal incision site, likely due to contact with the mandibular canine tooth
• Mandibular canine coronectomy was performed in 2/5 dogs to prevent flap trauma
• Flap design and commissure positioning were customizable, aiding tension relief and improving outcomes

🔍 Key Findings

• Bending tees significantly increased mediolateral bending stiffness, but not craniocaudal stiffness, in plate-bone constructs.
• Mean mediolateral stiffness was 43.2 N/mm with tees vs. 41.1 N/mm without (p = 0.0042), though the absolute difference was small.
• No significant differences were found in craniocaudal bending stiffness between constructs with or without tees (p = 0.89).
• Plastic deformation occurred in all constructs; no screw pull-out or implant breakage was observed.
• SOP nodes may resist compressive but not tensile deformation, suggesting variable mechanical contributions depending on loading direction.
• Craniocaudal bending had greater stiffness than mediolateral due to higher area moment of inertia along the node diameter.
• Clinical relevance of added stiffness from tees remains unclear, warranting further in vivo and cyclic testing.
• This was the first study to directly test SOP constructs with/without tees over a fracture gap in multiple planes.

🔍 Key Findings

• A novel caudo-medial arthroscopic portal allowed visualization of previously undescribed cartilage lesions on the caudal medial humeral condyle.
• A consistent focal cartilage lesion (HA lesion) was observed in 100% of elbows with HIF (21/21), but in none of the 31 elbows without HIF.
• Lesions varied from indentations to full-thickness cartilage loss, typically elliptical and located just medial to the humeral condyle isthmus.
• A clunk-like sensation and dynamic engagement of the anconeal process into the lesion were observed in 16/21 elbows with HIF during elbow manipulation.
• In 5/21 elbows, engagement of the anconeal process led to observable widening of the HIF line, suggesting dynamic instability.
• Findings support a novel concept of humero-anconeal incongruity as a contributor to the pathogenesis of HIF.
• Spaniel breed was not a confounder—the lesion was only present in elbows with HIF, regardless of breed.
• The study suggests potential for using arthroscopy as a screening tool for early detection of humero-anconeal incongruity and HIF risk.