
Your Custom Quiz
In Lemmon 2025 et al., on synovitis severity scoring, what was the most common synovitis severity score observed during arthroscopy?
🔍 Key Findings
Synovitis was present in 100% of canine stifles with CCL disease (n = 163).
The most frequent severity score was 3/5 (55.2%), followed by 4/5 (24.5%).
Higher synovitis scores were significantly associated with:
- Higher median cartilage scores (p = .042, OR = 2.1 per unit increase)
- Longer duration of clinical signs (p < .001, OR = 1.27 per month)
Bodyweight (p = .083) and sex (p = .17) were not statistically significant in multivariable analysis.
Bucket handle meniscal tears were not associated with synovitis severity.
Clinical implication: Earlier intervention may help reduce synovitis and slow OA progression.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Arthroscopic synovitis severity scoring in canine stifles with cranial cruciate ligament disease
2025-3-VS-lemmon-1
In Glenn 2024 et al., on client-based SSI surveillance, which algorithm demonstrated the highest overall accuracy for detecting SSIs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Algorithm 3 had the highest overall accuracy (95.5%) in diagnosing SSIs from client questionnaires.
- Active surveillance identified 19.4% more SSIs compared to passive surveillance alone.
- SSI rate was 8.22% across 754 surgeries; 33.9% of SSIs required revision surgery.
- Client-based responses were 37.9% more frequent than those from referring veterinarians.
- Deep/implant SSIs could be missed if not associated with visible wound healing problems.
- Two late SSIs (after 90 days) occurred, both linked to implant surgeries.
- Algorithm 1 was the most sensitive (87.1%) but less specific; useful for screening.
- Algorithm 2 had the highest specificity (97.9%); useful as a “rule-in” diagnostic method.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2024
Evaluation of a client questionnaire at diagnosing surgical site infections in an active surveillance system
2024-8-VS-glenn-1
In Katz 2022 et al., on meniscal flounce sign, what was the diagnostic accuracy of the sign for indicating an intact or torn meniscus during stifle arthroscopy?
🔍 Key Findings
- A positive meniscal flounce sign was associated with normal menisci in 95.5% of cases, demonstrating strong predictive value.
- Absence of the meniscal flounce sign was associated with meniscal tears in 92.7% of cases.
- Overall diagnostic accuracy of the flounce sign was 94.6%, with 96.6% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity.
- Most tears in flounce-negative stifles were bucket-handle tears (73.8%), while radial tears were present in some flounce-positive stifles.
- Radial tears did not consistently eliminate the flounce sign, suggesting they may not disrupt meniscal fiber tension sufficiently.
- All procedures were arthroscopically performed, with probing and visualization of the medial meniscus' caudal pole.
- Flounce sign should complement, not replace, probing—especially as some tear types (e.g., radial) may not abolish the sign.
- Limb positioning and joint distraction may affect flounce visibility, introducing minor observer variability.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2022
The significance of the meniscal flounce sign in canine stifle arthroscopy
2022-2-VS-katz-1
In Heikkilä 2024 et al., on COPLA scaffold evaluation, which early post-op pain-related finding was significant in COPLA dogs?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- 22 dogs (36 shoulders) with shoulder OCD randomly assigned to COPLA scaffold (n=19) or Control (n=17) group
- At 6 months: Significantly fewer dogs in COPLA group had OA (14% vs. 67%; p = 0.019)
- At 1.5 years: OA prevalence increased in both groups with no significant difference (COPLA: 64%, Control: 60%)
- HCPI (pain index) increased significantly at 1 week post-op in COPLA dogs only (p = 0.001), but later normalized
- Static weight-bearing improved only in unilaterally operated COPLA limbs (p = 0.015)
- One dog in COPLA group had a fragment dislodge requiring arthroscopic removal
- Overall, COPLA scaffold may provide short-term benefit in OA reduction, but long-term outcomes were similar
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
6
2024
Randomized, Blinded, Controlled Clinical Trial of Polylactide–Collagen Scaffold in Treatment of Shoulder Osteochondritis Dissecans in Dogs
2024-6-VCOT-heikkila-5
In Clough 2022 et al., on CBLO-TTT construct testing, why might the CBLO-TTT not suffer the same load-to-failure weakness seen in TPLO-TTT constructs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Combined CBLO-TTT did not reduce load to failure compared to CBLO or TTT alone (P = .81 and P = .12, respectively).
- CBLO-TTT maintains construct strength without significant compromise compared to individual procedures.
- Most common failure mode in CBLO-TTT was displacement of the tibial crest segment with k-wire pullout and tension band untwisting.
- No fulcrum effect was seen in CBLO-TTT, unlike TPLO-TTT combinations, likely due to preservation of buttress effect.
- Patellar ligament avulsion occurred in both CBLO and CBLO-TTT, but not as a clinical concern — possibly artifact from cadaver model.
- Load-to-failure testing was static and unidirectional, not accounting for cyclic fatigue or in vivo healing.
- Plate size and saw blade variation were based on clinical realism, introducing potential variability but not affecting outcomes.
- Study suggests feasibility of simultaneous surgical correction of CCL rupture and MPL using CBLO-TTT in dogs.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2022
Combined center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy and tibial tuberosity transposition: An ex vivo mechanical study
2022-3-VS-clough-3
In Matz 2022 et al., on stapler size comparison, which stapler group had the highest mean initial leak pressure (ILP)?
🔍 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-1
In Guénégo 2025 et al., on AMA-based CCWO, which subgroup had the most consistent axis alignment postoperatively?
🔍 Key Findings
- AMA-based CCWO realigned the anatomical and mechanical axes in 82% of dogs >50 kg, with postoperative AMA angle of 0° in most cases.
- Surgical site infection (SSI) rate was only 0.5%, markedly lower than TPLO-reported rates in similar populations (up to 37.5%).
- All osteotomies achieved Grade 4 healing by 8 weeks, with no implant failures.
- AMA-based planning based on preoperative AMA and TPA allowed for better correction of proximal tibial angulation compared to TPLO in large dogs.
- Use of a double locking plate (DLP) fixation and Robert Jones bandage (RJB) contributed to improved mechanical stability and infection prevention.
- Dogs with AMA angle >3.4° (hyper-CCAPT) were 38% of the cohort, supporting AMA as a critical metric in planning.
- Postoperative alignment of the AA and MA was more consistently achieved when preoperative AMA was >2.4°, confirming suitability of AMA-based CCWO for severe angulation.
- Most infections in TPLOs occur within 15 days, but RJB plus antibiotics in this study appeared protective, suggesting benefit for early-phase SSI prevention.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2025
Modified Cranial Closing Wedge Osteotomy (AMA-Based CCWO) to Treat Cranial Cruciate Ligament Deficient Stifle in 204 Dogs Over 50 Kg
2025-3-VCOT-guenego-5
In Miller 2024 et al., on SOP-LC mechanical testing, what was the impact of rod contouring on four-point bending strength?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- No significant difference in mechanical properties between contoured vs non-contoured SOP-LC rods
- Clamp configuration significantly influenced mechanical performance:
- Single-side clamps → ↑ yield load, ↑ displacement, ↑ bending strength (p < 0.05)
- Alternating-side clamps → ↑ initial torsional stiffness (p = 0.029)
- Clamp slippage was evident only in torsional tests; screw loosening may be torque-dependent
- Mild screw bending and construct offset suggest subtle instability
- Recommends clamp configuration choice based on loading scenario
- Suggests 3.0 Nm torque may be more effective than 2.5 Nm to prevent clamp slippage
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
4
2024
Mechanical Testing of Sliding on Pivot-Locking Clamp (SOP-LC) Fracture Repair System in Four-Point Bending and Torsion
2024-4-VCOT-miller-1
In Mullen 2023 et al., on microvascular perfusion, why was the green TA (4.8 mm) cartridge selected for stapled enterectomies?
🔍 Key Findings
- Microvascular density at the site of foreign body obstruction was significantly lower in obstructed dogs compared to healthy controls.
- PBR (perfused boundary region) was paradoxically lower in obstructed dogs, indicating that PBR may not reliably correlate with tissue viability in this context.
- No significant difference in microvascular perfusion between subjectively viable vs nonviable intestines, suggesting subjective assessment is unreliable.
- No difference in perfusion parameters between handsewn and stapled enterectomies, indicating both techniques preserve vascular health equally.
- Stapled enterectomy using green TA staples is safe and did not impair intestinal perfusion at the anastomosis site.
- SDF videomicroscopy is feasible intraoperatively and can differentiate healthy from diseased intestine in dogs.
- Surgeons' subjective evaluations led to potentially unnecessary enterectomies, as microvascular parameters did not differ.
- No cases of dehiscence or mortality, suggesting both surgical approaches are effective when applied properly.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2023
A quantitative evaluation of the effect of foreign body obstruction and enterectomy technique on canine small intestinal microvascular health
2023-4-VS-mullen-5
In Burkhardt 2024 et al., on coagulation testing in liver lobectomy, what percentage of dogs had both PT and aPTT prolonged preoperatively?
🔍 Key Findings
- 20.6% of dogs had a preoperative prolongation in PT or aPTT, but only 5.6% had both prolonged.
- Hemangiosarcoma was the only tumor type significantly associated with both PT and aPTT prolongation (37.5% of hemangiosarcoma cases, p < .001).
- Dogs with both PT and aPTT prolongations were 6.5× more likely to have emergency surgery (p < .001) and 2.5× more likely to have hemoabdomen (p = .0022).
- 60% of dogs with both PT and aPTT prolongation required blood transfusion (p < .001).
- Only 1.9% of all dogs had both PT and aPTT prolonged by >25%, suggesting limited clinical utility of routine PT/aPTT testing.
- Platelet count <50,000/μL was rare (1.5%) and not associated with PT/aPTT changes or transfusions.
- Routine PT/aPTT testing offers low diagnostic yield in elective liver lobectomy cases.
- Authors recommend case-by-case PT/aPTT screening, especially when hemangiosarcoma or bleeding tendencies are suspected.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2024
Evaluating preoperative coagulation panels in dogs undergoing liver lobectomy for primary liver tumors: A multi-institutional retrospective study
2024-7-VS-burkhardt-1
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings
