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In Almeida 2025 et al., on TPLO and partial CCL rupture, what was the authors’ conclusion on CCL transection as a preventive for desmitis?
🔍 Key Findings
- Transecting the CCL remnant during TPLO did not reduce patellar ligament thickening (PLT) at any measured point (proximal, mid, distal).
- Transection also failed to reduce postoperative patellar ligament shortening (PLL) at 6 weeks.
- Both groups (transected vs non-transected) showed significant thickening and shortening, with greatest PLT increase at the midpoint.
- Increased PLT was positively correlated with tibial plateau rotation (p = 0.02) and postoperative TPA (p = 0.04).
- No correlation between TT-O (tibial tuberosity width index) and PLT, suggesting narrow osteotomies did not influence PLT in this population.
- Partial CCL rupture was not significantly protective; dogs with partial tears still developed ligament thickening.
- Post-TPLO mid-patellar ligament thickening may relate to Gelpi retractor placement and osteotomy mechanics rather than CCL status.
- Authors do not recommend CCL transection during TPLO to prevent desmitis, citing possible increased instability and degeneration.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
4
2025
Effect of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Transection during TPLO on Patellar Desmitis in Dogs with Partial Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
2025-4-VCOT-almeida-4
In Song 2024 et al., on CT vs cystoscopy for ectopic ureters in dogs, what percentage of dogs with normal ureters were missed by CT?
🔍 Key Findings
- CT correctly identified ectopic ureters in 91% of dogs, but missed 50% of normal ureters, limiting its negative predictive value.
- Sensitivity for intramural ectopic ureters was 65%, while specificity was 71%, indicating moderate diagnostic performance.
- Sensitivity for extramural ectopic ureters was only 29%, despite a high specificity of 97%.
- CT was inaccurate in predicting ureteral orifice location, with sensitivity ranging from 0% to 76% depending on the site.
- 26% of dogs were misclassified for cystoscopic laser ablation (CLA) eligibility based on CT findings alone.
- Overall CT accuracy for CLA candidacy was 74%, but a significant minority would have been inappropriately treated.
- Multivariate analysis found no predictive factors (e.g., colon distension, body weight) for when CT would be incorrect.
- Authors recommend confirmatory cystoscopy to verify CT findings prior to treatment planning.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2024
Receiver operating characteristics of computed tomography (CT) compared to cystoscopy in diagnosis of canine ectopic ureters: Thirty-five cases
2024-3-VS-song-1
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, what percentage of prophylactic fenestrations were performed at adjacent disc sites?
🔍 Key Findings
- Prophylactic fenestration (PF) significantly reduced recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion (0% vs. 37.8%, p < .001).
- Surgery time was longer with PF (median 182 vs. 110 min, p = .017), but no difference in perioperative complication rates (PF 16.7%, non-PF 18.9%; p = .838).
- 25% overall recurrence rate, but all recurrences occurred in the non-PF group.
- Medical management was effective in 92.9% of recurrence cases.
- Most PF sites targeted adjacent discs; 88.9% were at adjacent levels, which are common recurrence sites.
- Neurologic outcomes were similar between PF and non-PF dogs post-surgery and at follow-up.
- Fenestration technique (blade vs. burr) not shown to affect outcome but contributed to extended surgical time.
- No major complications or deaths linked directly to PF in initial surgeries.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion in 55 dogs after surgical decompression with or without prophylactic fenestration
2025-6-VS-berthome-5
In Woelfel 2022 et al., on cervical locked facets, what was the most consistent outcome in dogs with follow-up?
🔍 Key Findings
- Locked facet injuries in dogs involved unilateral dorsal displacement of the cranial articular process of the caudal vertebra, most commonly at C5/6 or C6/7.
- All affected dogs were small/toy breeds, typically following trauma (most often attacks by larger dogs).
- Neurologic severity ranged from ambulatory tetraparesis to tetraplegia, often with thoracic limb deficits more severe than pelvic limbs — suggesting a central cord syndrome-like pattern.
- CT and MRI revealed axial rotation, subluxation, and articular process displacement; MRI showed T2 hyperintensity, nerve root impingement, and soft tissue changes.
- Surgical treatment included ventral fixation with screws, pins, and PMMA, and one case required dorsal facetectomy for reduction.
- Medical management, including external coaptation or rest, also resulted in functional recovery in select cases.
- All dogs with follow-up data (8/8) had functional recovery, with nonambulatory dogs regaining ambulation in a median of 4 weeks.
- No consistent differences in outcome were observed between surgical and nonsurgical management, suggesting locked facets may be biomechanically stable.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Subaxial cervical articular process subluxation and dislocation: Cervical locked facet injuries in dogs
2022-1-VS-woelfel-5
In Fracka 2023 et al., on patient-specific guides, what was suggested as a practical benefit of PSGs for veterinary surgeons?
🔍 Key Findings
- 3D-printed patient-specific guides (PSGs) improved tibial cut alignment in the frontal plane compared to generic guides (mean error 1.03° vs 2.41°, p = .036).
- All tibial cuts using PSGs were within 3° of target alignment, while 2/8 of the generic group were outliers.
- PSGs significantly improved sagittal alignment of both distal (p = .018) and cranial (p = .043) femoral cuts.
- No significant difference was found in varus-valgus femoral alignment or closing angle between PSG and generic guide groups.
- Tibial sagittal slope alignment was not significantly different between groups.
- PSGs provided better intraoperative usability, including improved visibility, no loosening, and ease of use.
- Femoral sizing and component fit were equivalent between PSGs and generic guides, ensuring proper prosthesis alignment.
- PSGs may offer training advantages for novice surgeons, especially in anatomically complex or deformed joints.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
3D-printed, patient-specific cutting guides improve femoral and tibial cut alignment in canine total knee replacement
2023-5-VS-fracka-5
In Ritson 2025 et al., on feline hilar lobectomy sealants, which of the following techniques demonstrated the **highest observed incidence of leakage** at 40 cm H₂O airway pressure?
🔍 Key Findings
- No leakage occurred using pretied ligature loops (PLL) or double-shank (DS) titanium clips up to 40 cm H₂O airway pressure.
- 1/10 stapled lobes leaked at supraphysiologic pressure (40 cm H₂O), but this was not statistically significant (p = .33).
- All techniques sealed effectively under physiologic and supraphysiologic pressures in cadaveric feline lungs.
- PLL and DS clips required less working space than staplers, making them more practical for small thoracic cavities.
- DS titanium clips offer enhanced security due to dual shanks and tissue-gripping design, reducing clip slippage.
- Leak testing was cyclic and submerged, simulating physiologic ventilation and allowing robust evaluation.
- Stapling failure occurred along the staple line, highlighting risks of air leakage due to staple misalignment or poor hilar access.
- PLL and DS clips may be cost-effective and efficient alternatives for open or minimally invasive feline lung lobectomy.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2025
Ex vivo comparative evaluation of feline hilar lung lobectomy using linear stapler, pretied ligature loop, and double-shank titanium clips
2025-7-VS-ritson-1
In Silveira 2022 et al., on GTO in canine THR, what was the long-term outcome of all cases treated with this technique?
🔍 Key Findings
- GTO enabled successful cementless THR in dogs with severe medialization of the greater trochanter or chronic craniodorsal hip luxation.
- All 5 hips had acceptable long-term outcomes (median follow-up: 48 months) with full function and no persistent complications.
- Only one major complication occurred—a luxation unrelated to the GTO and successfully corrected with cup revision.
- GTO facilitated femoral canal access and gluteal preservation, reducing risk of iatrogenic injury during broaching.
- All GTOs healed radiographically (4 by 6 weeks, 1 by 12 weeks), with no cases of nonunion or implant migration.
- No complications related to GTO or PTBW fixation (pins + tension band) were observed in any dog.
- Surgical planning included templating both THR and GTO to ensure ideal alignment and reduce fracture risk.
- GTO may be especially valuable in luxoid hip dysplasia phenotypes or chronically fixed luxations.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2022
Greater trochanter osteotomy as a component of cementless total hip replacement: Five cases in four dogs
2022-2-VS-silveira-2
In Price 2024 et al., on left-sided TD ligation in dogs, how many clinical cases showed a single thoracic duct branch at the proposed surgical site?
🔍 Key Findings
- Left fourth intercostal thoracotomy allowed successful thoracic duct (TD) ligation in 9/10 canine cadavers.
- 10/13 clinical cases had a single TD branch at the left fourth intercostal space, indicating lower anatomical complexity.
- All TD branches at this site were lateral to the esophagus, simplifying surgical access.
- Unilateral subphrenic pericardiectomy was successfully performed via the same incision in 10/10 cadavers.
- Fewer TD branches at the fourth intercostal space than traditional caudal sites may reduce the risk of missed collaterals.
- In contrast, traditional caudal TD ligation sites had up to 5 branches, requiring broader dissection.
- No cadaver had right-sided TD branches, reducing surgical complexity at the studied location.
- Contrast-confirmed ligation was effective in 90% (9/10) cadavers on CT imaging.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2024
Evaluation of thoracic duct ligation and unilateral subphrenic pericardiectomy via a left fourth intercostal approach in normal canine cadavers
2024-3-VS-price-4
In Banse 2022 et al., on skill retention methods, how did performance outcomes compare between SI and MI groups 3–4 weeks after instruction?
🔍 Key Findings
- Spaced instruction (SI) improved immediate performance on the first learned skill compared to massed instruction (MI) in both LSU and LMU cohorts.
- Cognitive load was higher in MI students at LMU, particularly in physical demand, effort, and frustration, while LSU showed no significant cognitive load differences.
- Skill performance differences disappeared after 2 weeks of supervised practice, regardless of instructional format.
- Time to complete skills improved over time, but this did not always correlate with improved checklist or global rating scores.
- Intrinsic cognitive load increased when teaching more complex or related surgical tasks in the same session.
- Initial skill complexity and prior exposure may influence effectiveness of spaced vs massed instruction.
- Supervised practice sessions are critical to eliminate initial skill disparities between instructional methods.
- Massed instruction may still be acceptable if followed by scheduled practice opportunities.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2022
Teaching veterinary surgical skills: Comparison of massed versus spaced instruction
2022-7-VS-banse-3
In Sabol 2024 et al., what was the narrowest documented corridor width in thoracic vertebrae?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Evaluated ideal dorsolateral implant trajectories in T1–T13 using CT in 30 dogs across five weight classes.
- Corridor widths were narrowest in the mid-thoracic vertebrae (as little as 1.8 mm) and increased cranially and caudally.
- Allowable deviation angles (ADA) were often very small (as little as 3°), indicating high risk for canal or thoracic structure breach.
- Distances to critical structures (lungs, aorta, subclavian artery, azygos vein) were often <1 mm, even in large dogs.
- Data suggest extreme caution and precision are needed for thoracic vertebral implant placement and support use of navigation or 3D-printed guides.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
2
2024
Implantation Corridors in Canine Thoracic Vertebrae: A Morphometric Study in Dogs of Varying Sizes
2024-2-VCOT-sabol-1
Quiz Results
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Key Findings