🔍 Key Findings

• Simulated quadriceps and gastrocnemius forces increased proportionally with axial load in all three femoral fixation models.
• Model 2 (rigid fixation) resulted in subphysiologic quadriceps forces and abnormally high gastrocnemius forces, reducing model fidelity.
• Models 1 and 3 (with hip mobility) produced more physiologic quadriceps and force ratios, especially under 30–40% bodyweight loads.
• Force ratios were significantly lower in rigid fixation (Model 2) compared to hip-mobile models (p = .007), suggesting model design affects simulated muscle coordination.
• Joint angles (stifle and hock) remained within acceptable limits, though slight flexion occurred with increasing load.
• Relative foot position differed by ~3.9 mm between models 2 and 3, with model 2 showing a more caudal position.
• Model 3 preserved benefits of hip mobility while allowing radiographic documentation, making it a preferred setup for future studies.
• The study suggests that models used in feline stifle stabilization research may underestimate physiologic forces, especially with rigid fixation designs.

🔍 Key Findings

• Hepatic venous drainage patterns vary widely across all lobes, especially the left lateral lobe.
• Right lateral lobe had a median of 2 vessels draining directly into the caudal vena cava (CVC); range: 1–4.
• Caudate process of caudate lobe had the most variability: 1–5 vessels draining into the CVC; 2 vessels was most common (54.5%).
• Left lateral lobe drained via 2–8 veins into the left hepatic vein (LHV), with 3 veins most common (31.2%).
• Left medial lobe typically had 1 vein draining into the LHV (61% of dogs).
• Papillary process drained into the LHV in 93.5% of cases; 6.5% drained directly to the CVC.
• Quadrate lobe always had 1 vessel draining either directly to the CVC or via the LHV.
• CTA revealed more variations than previously described in plastinated or cadaveric studies, highlighting its superior value in surgical planning.

🔍 Key Findings

• Postoperative complications occurred in 20% of stifles, including 7.5% minor, 10.3% surgical, and 3.4% medical complications.
• The PROSPECT machine-learning model achieved high predictive accuracy: 92.3% for surgical complications, 91.9% for minor, and 94.3% for medical.
• Top predictive features included surgical technique, implant type, patient age, and surgeon identity.
• Surgeon-specific variables influenced predictions, indicating operator experience and technique matter.
• Engineered interaction features (e.g., breed × implant) were more predictive than raw clinical data alone.
• Rottweiler, intact male status, and higher bodyweight were associated with increased complication risk; Labradors had decreased risk.
• Model calibration was strong, especially for high and low probability predictions; midrange predictions were less reliable.
• The model supports individualized, probabilistic risk assessment, which could inform client counseling and tailored postoperative care.

PROSPECT = Predicting Risk Of Surgical compli­cations aftEr CCWO and TPLO

🔍 Key Findings

• Lower CTI values were significantly associated with higher risk of both intraoperative and postoperative femoral fractures or fissures (p <.0001).
• The mean CTI for all dogs was 0.285, whereas dogs with fissures/fractures had a mean CTI of 0.246.
• For each 0.001 increase in CTI, odds of fissure/fracture decreased by 2–3% depending on perioperative timing.
• High interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.984) and consistency between pre- and postoperative CTI measurements (ICC = 0.96).
• CTI was the only significant risk factor identified; age, breed, bodyweight, BCS, CFI, or luxoid hips were not significant.
• Prophylactic lateral plating in dogs with low CTI (mean 0.230) resulted in no postoperative fractures.
• Postoperative fractures occurred in 8% of cases, and 93% of dogs returned to full function within one year.
• CTI may be a useful radiographic screening tool, especially when advanced imaging (e.g., DEXA) is unavailable.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• Spacer pin fixation showed no difference in failure force or stiffness compared to tension band wire (TBW) or 2-pin techniques.
• All constructs failed under loads >1000 N, exceeding estimated peak quadriceps force in dogs during walking (~240 N).
• Patellar ligament failure was the most common mode of failure across all groups (5–8 samples per group).
• Distal tibial crest fractures were seen only in 2-pin and spacer pin groups, not in TBW group, suggesting TBW may protect against crest failure.
• No failures occurred at pin tracts, possibly due to pin placement within patellar ligament footprint.
• Spacer pin technique avoids placing pins through the tuberosity, potentially reducing risks of soft tissue complications like tendinopathy or irritation.
• Use of partial osteotomy with robust distal crest may substitute for TBW without compromising initial mechanical strength.
• Further in vivo or cyclic loading studies are required, as this cadaveric study tested only acute tensile failure.

🔍 Key Findings

• All four techniques achieved TPA <14°, meeting the threshold for acceptable surgical correction in eTPA cases.
• Group A (CBLO + CCWO) and Group D (PTNWO) showed highest accuracy in achieving target TPA values.
• Group B (TPLO + CCWO) resulted in significant tibial shortening compared to other techniques.
• Group A caused the greatest cranial mechanical axis shift, while Group B caused the least.
• Group C (mCCWO) resulted in consistent under-correction of TPA, despite aiming for 0°.
• Modified or neutral wedge osteotomies (Groups C and D) had minimal effect on tibial length, making them suitable when preservation is important.
• All techniques involved mechanical axis shifts, highlighting the importance of preoperative planning to minimize morphologic disruption.
• Supplemental fixation was standard for all procedures to reduce risks such as tibial tuberosity fracture and plateau leveling loss.

🔍 Key Findings

• CBLO was effective for stifle stabilization in skeletally immature dogs with CrCL injuries, avoiding disruption of proximal tibial growth plates.
• Radiographic union of the osteotomy occurred in a mean of 6 weeks (range: 4–8 weeks), indicating rapid bone healing.
• Full limb function was restored in all cases by long-term follow-up (mean 23 months), including dogs with initial complications.
• Two dogs developed 19° valgus deformities due to screw interference with the proximal tibial physis; both were corrected surgically with return to function.
• One dog developed 10° recurvatum due to over-rotation of the tibial plateau, but retained full function without revision.
• CCS (countersink compression screw) caused early apophyseal closure in older dogs but had no adverse clinical effects.
• In contrast, K-wire or plate-only fixation preserved open apophysis, suggesting implant choice may influence growth.
• No meniscal injuries were observed, and all CrCL injuries were managed arthroscopically — 6 complete, 6 partial, 4 avulsions.

🔍 Key Findings

• Electroceutical dressing (PED) promoted complete healing of chronic wounds in both a dog and a cat previously unresponsive to standard therapies.
• Infection clearance occurred in both animals by the end of PED therapy, as shown by negative culture results.
• In the dog, wound area reduced by ~4.2× over 10 days; healing completed by day 67 with no further antibiotic therapy.
• In the cat, wound area reduced by ~2.5× over 17 days; healing completed by day 47 without systemic antibiotics.
• PEDs function via direct current (DC) stimulation, believed to generate hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with antibacterial properties.
• No side effects or adverse tissue reactions were observed in either case, supporting biocompatibility.
• Multidrug-resistant organisms (e.g., S. pseudintermedius, S. canis, S. epidermidis) were eradicated by PED treatment.
• PED therapy may reduce reliance on antibiotics and surgery, offering a novel adjunct for chronic, infected wounds.

🔍 Key Findings

Sample: 373 cats with high-rise syndrome (HRS) from 2017–2020.
ATTS was the only significant predictor of survival (p < 0.001); each point increase decreased survival odds (OR = 0.46).
AUC for ATTS ROC curve: 0.857 (95% CI: 0.788–0.926).
Floor height, lesion type, and ground surface were not significantly associated with survival.
Odds of injury were 7.98× higher when landing on hard vs. soft surface (p < 0.001).
16.96× increased injury risk from the fourth vs. third floor (p = 0.008).
Cats with ATTS ≥7 had 62% mortality; median ATTS increased with floor height (r = 0.244, p < 0.001).
Thoracic and vertebral trauma were most common causes of death.
Only 32% of cats had the “classic” HRS triad (pneumothorax, epistaxis, hard palate fracture).