
Your Custom Quiz
In Marshall 2022 et al., on fracture healing in dogs, how did **radius and ulna fractures in toy breeds** perform regarding delayed or non-union?
🔍 Key Findings
- Delayed union occurred in 13.9% of fractures; non-union in 4.6%; mal-union in 0.7%
- Major implant failure increased odds of delayed or non-union by 12.9×
- Surgical site infection increased risk 3.2×; bone grafting (any type) was also associated (OR 3.3)
- Comminuted fractures had 4.2× greater odds of delayed or non-union
- Older age increased risk, with odds increasing by 21% per year
- Radius and ulna fractures in toy breeds were not high risk, contrary to historical belief
- Most non-unions required revision surgery with rhBMP-2 or autograft to achieve union
- Ilium fractures showed 0% delayed/non-union — possibly due to robust muscle envelope
Veterinary Surgery
7
2022
Delayed union, non-union and mal-union in 442 dogs
2022-7-VS-marshall-2
In Gutbrod 2024 et al., on feline tibial stabilization, what intramedullary pin diameter was associated with the highest biomechanical performance?
🔍 Key Findings
- 2.4 mm LCP with a 1.6 mm IM pin had the highest axial stiffness and yield strength among the tested constructs.
- Axial stiffness was significantly higher in the 2.4 mm LCP + 1.6 mm IM pin group compared to 2.7 mm LCP alone (p = .013).
- No significant difference in torsional stiffness was found among groups.
- 2.4 mm LCP + 1.0 mm pin had the lowest stiffness and failure load, underperforming both other constructs.
- All constructs failed via valgus bending, consistent with clinical observations in feline tibial fractures.
- A 1.6 mm pin (~50% canal fill) resulted in superior construct performance vs. 1.0 mm (~30% fill).
- Group 2 (2.4 LCP + 1.6 mm pin) outperformed the 2.7 mm LCP alone in stiffness, despite using a smaller plate.
- Plate–rod constructs may better preserve periosteal blood supply and support minimally invasive stabilization strategies.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Ex vivo biomechanical evaluation of 2.4 mm LCP plate rod constructs versus 2.7 mm LCP applied to the feline tibia
2024-4-VS-gutbrod-3
In Aldrich 2023 et al., on liposomal bupivacaine in TPLO, which metric showed no significant difference between treatment and placebo groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) infiltration did not reduce the need for rescue analgesia compared with placebo in dogs undergoing TPLO.
- CMPS-SF pain scores were not significantly different between LB and placebo groups at any postoperative time point.
- % body weight distribution (%BWdist) to the operated limb did not differ significantly between treatment groups across all time points.
- No correlation was found between CMPS-SF scores and %BWdist, suggesting these metrics assess different aspects of postoperative pain.
- Postoperative carprofen administration was standardized, and LB did not provide additional detectable analgesic benefit.
- Three-layer infiltration technique (joint capsule, fascia, subcutis) was used consistently across all cases.
- Adverse events were minor and comparable between LB and placebo groups.
- Post hoc analysis suggested a much larger sample size (58–436 dogs) would be needed to detect significant differences in %BWdist.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
Blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of bupivacaine liposomal suspension using static bodyweight distribution and subjective pain scoring in dogs after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgery
2023-5-VS-aldrich-1
In Zann 2023 et al., In Long-term outcomes after proximal humeral OC debridement in dogs, what difference was noted in affected limbs compared to contralateral limbs in unilaterally affected dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- 20 dogs (26 shoulders) evaluated at mean 3.5 years post-surgery after arthroscopic or open debridement.
- Ipsilateral muscle atrophy and decreased range of motion (↓ extension, ↓ flexion) in affected limbs compared to contralateral healthy shoulders.
- All treated shoulders developed osteoarthritis, confirmed radiographically, by CT, and arthroscopically.
- Moderate to severe synovitis was present in all shoulders; lesions showed patchy, incomplete cartilage infilling even up to 8.9 years post-op.
- Kinetic gait analysis showed no significant differences in PVF/VI between affected and unaffected limbs, despite mild lameness clinically.
- Owners reported good to very good mobility (median LOAD = 6), often underestimating clinical lameness.
- CT detected larger lesion dimensions than radiographs (wider, deeper defects).
- Despite progression of OA, surgical debridement was associated with satisfactory long-term function, though not prevention of degenerative changes.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2023
Long-term outcome of dogs treated by surgical debridement of proximal humeral osteochondrosis
2023-7-VS-zann-4
In Philips 2025 et al., on radiographic IAIP detection, which implant direction was more likely to be misclassified as penetrating the joint?
🔍 Key Findings
Overall accuracy of radiography to detect IAIP: 77.9%
Sensitivity: 97.2%
Specificity: 67.6%
False positive rate: 32.4% of non-penetrating implants were misclassified as penetrating
Implants directed toward the lateral tibial condyle had higher misclassification (23.8%) than medial (8.3%)
Most accurate detection: Implants placed 2 mm into the joint (97.2% correct classification)
Least agreement: For implants placed at 0 mm (subchondral level), especially lateral (AC1 = 0.48)
No palpable abnormalities (e.g., crepitus) observed during ROM for any group
No significant difference in detection by specialty field or reviewer qualification
Suggests radiographic misclassification risk and supports considering CT/fluoroscopy in equivocal cases
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Detection of intra‐articular implant penetration of the canine stifle with radiography: A cadaveric study
2025-3-VS-philips-4
In Crystal 2024 et al., on elbow osteotomies, which variable most significantly predicted reduced medial elbow load?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Ex vivo cadaver study using 5 paired canine thoracic limbs
- Compared medial opening wedge osteotomy (MOWO) and external rotational osteotomy (ERO) of the humerus
- Measured pressure changes in the medial compartment using thin-film sensors
- ERO significantly reduced peak pressure and pressure distribution in the medial elbow compartment (p < 0.05)
- MOWO showed no significant pressure reduction relative to native state
- Combined MOWO + ERO did not significantly improve over ERO alone
- Findings support the biomechanical rationale for ERO as a surgical strategy to offload the medial compartment in cases like medial compartment disease (MCD)
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
4
2024
Effect of Medial Opening Wedge and External Rotational Humeral Osteotomies on Medial Elbow Compartment Pressure: An Ex Vivo Study
2024-4-VCOT-crystal-5
In Alvarez 2022 et al., on rehabilitation modalities, what was the outcome of the single study on low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS)?
🔍 Key Findings
- Exercise-based rehabilitation showed benefits in 6 of 7 studies, including increased peak vertical force (PVF) and reduced lameness, though most had high risk of bias (RoB).
- Cold compression therapy (CCT) had 2 high-quality (Level II, low RoB) studies showing improvements in pain scores, range of motion, and swelling, supporting its clinical use.
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) was supported by 2 Level II studies; only one had low RoB, showing short-term benefits in patellar ligament thickness and PVF, but no long-term benefit on bone healing.
- Photobiomodulation (PBM) had mixed results across 3 Level II studies (all low RoB); only 1 showed positive impact on PVF, limiting its recommendation.
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) showed no significant impact on gait analysis or bone healing in a Level II, low RoB study.
- Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) improved lameness and thigh circumference in one Level III study, but had high-moderate RoB and involved experimentally-induced CCL rupture, limiting clinical relevance.
- No modality beyond exercise and CCT had consistent or strong evidence for efficacy in post-TPLO or extracapsular repair rehabilitation.
- The absence of standardized protocols, small sample sizes, and inconsistent outcome measures limited the generalizability of findings.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2022
Systematic review of postoperative rehabilitation interventions after cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs
2022-2-VS-alvarez-5
In Raleigh 2022 et al., on pericardiectomy complications, what preoperative finding may serve as a warning sign for intraoperative VF?
🔍 Key Findings
- Ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in 3% of pericardiectomy cases across reporting institutions.
- 14 of 16 dogs (88%) that developed intraoperative VF died, indicating high mortality.
- Electrosurgical devices were used in 15/16 dogs; VF onset coincided with their use in 8 dogs, suggesting a potential but unproven association.
- Preoperative arrhythmias were seen in 7 dogs (e.g., VPCs, VT, bradycardia), possibly serving as early warning signs.
- Thoracoscopic approach was used in 75% of cases; however, conversion to open surgery was required in 9/13 thoracoscopic procedures after VF onset.
- Defibrillation was attempted in 13 dogs, but only 3 converted to sinus rhythm, and only 2 survived postoperatively.
- VF may result from stray current or cardiac manipulation; bipolar energy devices were implicated despite lower theoretical risk.
- Preventative strategies include judicious electrosurgery use, close ECG monitoring, rapid CPR preparedness, and preop cardiac risk assessment.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2022
The development of ventricular fibrillation as a complication of pericardiectomy in 16 dogs
2022-4-VS-raleigh-4
In Matz 2022 et al., on stapler size comparison, what is the clinical significance of the finding that all stapler groups had ILPs exceeding 25 mmHg?
🔍 Key Findings
- No significant difference in initial leak pressure (ILP) among TA 30 V3 2.5 mm, TA 60 3.5 mm, and TA 60 4.8 mm stapler sizes (P = .78).
- All stapler types exceeded the physiological intraluminal pressure threshold (~25 mmHg), suggesting acceptable leak resistance.
- Mean ILPs: TA 30 V3 (181.5 mmHg), TA 60 3.5 mm (112 mmHg), TA 60 4.8 mm (77.2 mmHg).
- Leakage occurred at the staple line in 23 of 24 specimens; only one had ileal wall rupture.
- No correlation found between ILP and cadaver weight, cecal wall thickness, or cecal length.
- Cecal wall thickness averaged 4.9 mm, yet staple heights ranged only from 1.0–2.0 mm.
- One specimen in each TA 60 group leaked near or below physiologic pressures, suggesting rare outliers.
- Study supports clinical viability of all tested stapler sizes for canine typhlectomy, but highlights need for in vivo data on healing and complications.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2022
Ex vivo comparison of different thoracoabdominal stapler sizes for typhlectomy in canine cadavers
2022-4-VS-matz-4
In Fink 2025 et al., on Roux-en-Y outcomes, what was the reported overall postoperative mortality rate?
🔍 Key Findings
- Roux-en-Y procedures were successfully completed in all 11 cases (6 dogs, 5 cats), despite case complexity and disease severity.
- Median survival post-discharge was longer in cats (365 days) vs. dogs (82 days), with better outcomes in non-neoplastic vs. neoplastic disease (192 vs. 5 days).
- Complication rate was high, with septic peritonitis, dehiscence, and cardiac arrest as leading causes of postoperative death; mortality rate = 36%.
- Dehiscence rate was 8.6% (2 of 23 anastomoses), considered lower than typical rates for GI anastomoses in high-risk patients.
- Feeding tubes (gastrostomy/jejunostomy) were used in all cases, enabling early nutritional support and stomach decompression.
- Postoperative nausea and vomiting were common but mostly self-limiting; managed with metoclopramide, cisapride, and antiemetics.
- Choledochojejunostomy was preferred when common bile duct was dilated, offering a favorable size match and potentially reducing bile leakage.
- Roux-en-Y reduced typical Billroth II complications (e.g., bile reflux, afferent loop syndrome, dumping syndrome), with none observed in discharged patients.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2025
Roux‐en‐Y procedure to reconstruct the upper gastrointestinal tract in six dogs and five cats: A descriptive case series
2025-5-VS-fink-1
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings
