🔍 Key Findings

• Case series of 6 shoulders in 5 working/sporting dogs. Conditions treated: 3 partial biceps ruptures, 3 luxations with fraying.
• All treated with biceps tenodesis using a bioabsorbable anchor (Weldix 2.3 mm).
• All dogs returned to function (some to high-level sports); lameness resolved within 1–5 weeks.
• No implant-related complications with anchor-only cases. One dog had seroma and later infection but recovered.
• Tendon clamp (used in 2 cases) caused irritation in one dog → resolved after removal.
• CT follow-up confirmed integrity; drill holes filled with bone.
• Median LOAD score: 12; higher in older dogs or with concurrent conditions.
• Authors suggest tenodesis offers more stability and faster return to function than tenotomy in working dogs.
• Larger, controlled studies are recommended.

🔍 Key Findings

• Quadriceps muscle length/femoral length ratio (QML/FL) was significantly lower in dogs with grade IV MPL than grades I–III (p ≤ .002).
• Shortened QML was associated with increased femoral torsion angle (FTA) and increased aLDFA, indicating correlation with femoral deformity.
• QML/FL increased with age, possibly due to muscular development or reduced deformity in older dogs (p = .004).
• Grade IV MPL dogs had QML/FL < 0.87, the lower normal limit based on healthy beagles, suggesting clinically significant muscle shortening.
• PLL/PL ratio (used to diagnose patella alta) was not associated with QML/FL or MPL severity in small breeds.
• QML/FL can help preoperatively identify candidates for femoral shortening ostectomy, improving femoropatellar alignment.
• Multivariate regression model confirmed QML/FL is independently influenced by age, FTA, and aLDFA (R² = 0.45).
• CT-based 3D measurements enabled objective, noninvasive quantification of femoral and muscle alignment parameters.

🔍 Key Findings:

• Design: Ex vivo study with 24 paired limbs from normal beagle dogs.
• Osteotomy types (3 groups):
  1. 30° uniplanar frontal wedge
  2. Oblique (30° frontal, 15° sagittal)
  3. Single oblique (30° frontal, 15° sagittal, 30° external rotation)
• Comparison: 3D PSG vs Freehand (FH)
• Main Outcomes:
  • PSG accuracy: Mean angular deviation = 2.8° vs 6.4° in FH (p < .001).
  • 84% of PSG osteotomies were within 5° of target vs 50% of FH.
• Significant improvements with PSG in:
  • Group 1 (uniplanar frontal) proximal and distal frontal planes (p < .001, .006)
  • Group 3 (SOO) frontal and sagittal planes (p = .002, .043)
• Time: PSG faster in complex SOO group (84s vs 162s, p < .001); no difference in others.
• No difference in osteotomy location (mm) between methods.
• Clinical relevance: PSG more consistent and accurate, especially for complex cuts.

🔍 Key Findings

Study type: Cadaveric stifle arthroscopy in large breed dogs (n=12 joints from 6 dogs)
Goal: Describe and assess the proximal lateral portal for insertion of a Ventura stifle thrust lever (VSTL)
Main results:

• No damage to the long digital extensor tendon (LDE) with this portal
• VSTL could be placed without removing the arthroscope
• Portal creation time ~37 seconds (faster than previously reported)

Cartilage impact:

• Superficial iatrogenic articular cartilage injury (IACI) present in all specimens
• No difference in IACI between 5- and 10-minute lever durations
• Zone 4 (lateral femoral condyle) had significantly more damage than zones 1–3 (p < .05)

Conclusion: Portal was safe, repeatable, minimally invasive, and did not increase cartilage damage with up to 10-minute lever use

🔍 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

🔍 Key Findings

• This study evaluated whether high-fidelity surgical simulator training improved live animal and student outcomes in a feline OHE teaching lab involving 186 cats and 146 students.
• Simulator training significantly improved surgical performance and outcomes:
  • Live surgery was 6 minutes shorter on average in the SIM group vs. NO-SIM (115 ± 21 min vs. 121 ± 16 min, p = .04).
  • Pain scores ≥5/20 occurred in 1% of SIM group cats vs. 15% of NO-SIM group cats (p < .01).
  • Rescue analgesia was needed less frequently in the SIM group (5% vs. 15%, p = .03).
  • Student confidence was significantly higher in the SIM group (median 7/10 vs. 6/10, p < .01).
• The simulator used a realistic abdominal model with friable tissues and required performance of a full OHE procedure.
• The study design was nonrandomized, grouped by class year, with limitations including lack of blinding during pain assessment in year two.
• Authors concluded that pre-lab simulator competency improves both animal welfare and student confidence, recommending it as a prerequisite for live surgical training.

🔍 Key Findings

• Fascial planes in dogs were consistently classifiable into four surgical types:
• Type I (discrete sheets), Type II (tightly adhered to thin muscle), Type III (tightly adhered to thick muscle), and Type IV (periosteum-associated).
• Two junction types were identified: Type A (easily elevated) and Type B (higher risk of disruption).
• Disruption-prone areas include the scapular spine (type IV fascia) and lateral thorax near the 13th rib, where rib resection may be needed to preserve margins.
• The latissimus dorsi transition zones and fascial areas near the thoracic inlet and scapulohumeral joint were prone to fascial thinning or disruption.
• Partial muscle resections or periosteal elevations may be required in areas with fragile fascia to maintain oncologic margins.
• Dorsal spinous processes (T6–L6) showed type IV fascia; however, osteotomy may be needed in some dogs for clear margins.
• Blended fascial transitions (e.g., rectus abdominis: type II cranially, type I caudally) necessitate intraoperative judgment on resection depth.
• Cutaneous trunci may suffice as a deep margin for small, low-grade tumors in well-muscled dogs, but not reliably for high-grade or larger masses.

🔍 Key Findings

• Primary repair of NSAID-associated full-thickness gastroduodenal ulcers was successful in 73% (8/11) of cases.
• NSAID overdose, concurrent corticosteroid use, or extended duration were identified in 9/11 dogs and were major contributors to ulceration.
• All perforations were in the pylorus or proximal duodenum, locations suitable for primary closure.
• No significant association between ulcer size or location and postoperative survival.
• Preoperative hyperlactatemia trended toward increased mortality (P = .0544; OR 2.045).
• Postoperative vasopressor use was linked with a 9-fold increased risk of mortality (P = .0545).
• Dehiscence was rare, suspected in only 1 of 11 cases, indicating that primary repair is structurally sound in selected cases.
• Median follow-up of 444 days showed long-term survival was achievable post-primary repair.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

Study focus: Outcomes of cannulated screw fixation in unicondylar humeral condylar fractures (UHCF) in dogs.
Clinical union rate: 89%
Overall complication rate: 36%

• Major complication: Most common was screw breakage

Significant risk factor for screw breakage:

• Body weight >20 kg (statistically significant)

Breed distribution:

• Spaniels, especially English Springer Spaniels, were most common

No mention of plate augmentation as standard in this cohort