🔍 Key Findings

Design: In vitro study on cadaveric femurs (n=21) with basilar femoral neck fractures stabilized using 2 vs 3 titanium cannulated screws.

Stiffness: Control > 3-screw > 2-screw (674 > 120 > 90 N/mm).

Yield Load: 3-screw (586 N) > 2-screw (303 N); both < intact femur (2692 N).

Displacement: No difference across groups.

Complication: 3-screw technique more demanding; higher risk of cortical perforation, especially with narrow femoral necks.

Failure Mode: Dislodgement of femoral head + screw shaft bending.

Conclusion: 3 screws = stronger construct than 2 screws. Clinical implications need further study.

🔍 Key Findings

• Two-pin fixation had significantly greater strength (639 N) than single-pin fixation (426 N) in TTAF models (p = .003).
• Stiffness was also higher with two-pin constructs (72 N/mm vs 57 N/mm); statistically significant (p = .029).
• Both fixation types withstood loads greater than quadriceps force in dogs at a walk (240 N), indicating clinical viability.
• Failure was most commonly due to pin bending or pullout (82%), with fewer cases of ligament tearing or epiphyseal fracture.
• K-wire insertion angle (KWIA) did not significantly differ between fixation types (p = .13).
• Single larger pins delivered ~68% of the strength and ~83% of the stiffness of two smaller vertically aligned pins.
• Clinical implication: Two vertically aligned pins are biomechanically superior for TTAF fixation in canine models.
• Study used mature cadavers, which may underestimate loads and stiffness compared to immature clinical cases.

🔍 Key Findings

Population: 9 dogs underwent revision of osteointegrated acetabular cups after total hip arthroplasty (THA)

Revision Indications:

• 7 luxations (5 ventral, 2 craniodorsal)
• 1 femoral stem fracture
• 1 aseptic stem loosening

Implants:

• 8 BFX cups, 1 Helica; all revised to BFX
• 7/9 required a larger cup than original

Cup removal: Required sectioning with a high-speed burr and modular osteotome; removal fragments extracted

Complications:

• 1 recurrent luxation
• 1 low-grade infection with possible metallic debris-associated osteolysis
• 2 femoral fissures managed intraoperatively

Outcomes:

• Good to excellent function in 6/6 dogs available at median 621 days
• Minimal complications with success in re-osteointegration of new cup

Clinical takeaway: Revision of stable, ingrown cups is feasible and offers an alternative to pelvic osteotomies; typically requires upsizing

🔍 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

• 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• Overall complication rate was 19.7% (43/218), with most being mild (CSS 1).
• Soft tissue procedures had higher complication rates (26%) than orthopedic procedures (11.6%) (P < 0.01).
• No difference in complication rates between clean, clean-contaminated, and contaminated wounds (P = 0.55).
• No difference in complication rates between labeled use (CCL surgery) and off-label orthopedic procedures (P = 0.21).
• Majority of complications (63%) were mild, resolving without intervention or with topical therapy.
• Severe complications requiring revision surgery were rare (2.3%) and occurred mainly in soft-tissue surgeries.
• Most common complications included SSI (25.6%), dehiscence (16.3%), and seroma (14%).
• Liposomal bupivacaine appears safe for use in broader orthopedic procedures beyond current labeling.

🔍 Key Findings

Internal fixation (IF) group (n=59):

• Complication rate: 20.3%
• Major complications: 15.3%
• Longer time to discharge if complications occurred (median: 12.5 weeks)

External skeletal fixation (ESF) group (n=36):

• Complication rate: 55.6% (p < .001 vs IF)
• Major complications: 52.8%
• Most common issue: pin tract morbidity

Multivariable analysis:

• Use of IF significantly reduced odds of complications (OR 0.23, p = .004)
• Use of post-op antibiotics associated with increased odds of complications (OR 3.53, p = .028)

Fixation choice influenced by age:

• Older puppies more likely to receive IF (OR 1.25 per week increase in age, p < .001)

Breed & fracture distribution:

• Common breeds: Labrador, Border Collie, Whippet
• Common fracture sites: middle and proximal third of tibia

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• 3 dogs developed permanent fibular nerve dysfunction following TPLO
• Common findings:
  • Drill hole or screw in caudal tibial cortex just distal to osteotomy
  • Caudal malpositioning of TPLO plate (esp. right limb of case 3)
  • Post-op signs: cranial tibial atrophy, knuckling, exaggerated gait, no hock flexion
• One case had confirmed deep/superficial fibular neuropathy via electrodiagnostics
• Recommended prevention: avoid overly caudal drill paths; careful gait assessment at follow-up is key

🔍 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.

🔍 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.