🔍 Key Findings

Study population: 12 dogs with medial or lateral tarsocrural joint instability (TCI), including 5 working farm dogs.
Procedure: Temporary immobilization using a calcaneotibial screw (CTS) combined with external coaptation (EC).
Stabilization techniques:

• 3 dogs = primary ligamentous repair
• 8 dogs = synthetic ligament reconstruction
• 2 dogs = malleolar fracture repair

Follow-up: Median 31 months (range 4–66); 10 owners completed outcome survey.
Outcomes:

• All 10 dogs had improved or resolved lameness.
• All 5 farm dogs returned to work (most at full or substantial capacity).
• Complication rate: 4 distinct events in 3 dogs (1 major = CTS breakage; 3 minor = bandage-related soft tissue injuries).

Conclusion: CTS + EC provided effective immobilization with low complication rate, and functional outcomes were favorable even in active dogs.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Sample: 38 Labrador Retrievers (76 elbows)
• SBCs (subchondral bone cysts):
  • Not found in elbows without OA
• Increased number and size with OA severity:
  • Grade 1: median 3 SBCs
  • Grade 2: 9 SBCs
• Grade 3: 20 SBCs (p < .001)
• Larger SBCs in more severe OA (OR = 1.056, p = .012)
• Locations: 62% humerus, 28% ulna, 10% radius
• Sex and Age Effects:
  • Older dogs had larger SBCs (p = .013)
  • Female dogs had smaller SBCs (p = .002)
  • SBC number unrelated to age or sex

🔍 Key Findings

• LVSG was feasible in 9/10 feline cadavers with successful stapled gastrectomy and minimal technical complications.
• Stenosis at the incisura angularis occurred in 2/10 cadavers, associated with staple placement too close to the lesser curvature.
• Leak testing was negative in 8 cadavers and both live cats, indicating effective staple sealing.
• Mean stomach resection was ~28%, though less than human standards (~75–80%) for metabolic effects.
• Surgery was performed safely in two live feline subjects, with no intraoperative or postoperative complications over a 6-month follow-up.
• Technique refinements included orogastric tube placement and custom 3D-printed cannulas to improve staple line accuracy and avoid stenosis.
• Tri-Staple purple cartridges provided graduated compression suited for feline gastric tissue thickness (~2.5 mm).
• No need for staple line oversew in live cats; staple-only closure proved safe in this short-term study.

🔍 Key Findings

• 83% of dogs survived to discharge after adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.
• Median survival time post-discharge was 1169 days (3.2 years).
• Preoperative alpha-blocker therapy (e.g., phenoxybenzamine) was not associated with improved survival.
• Dogs receiving alpha-blockers had higher intraoperative systolic BP, with median values 170 mmHg vs. 142 mmHg in non-treated dogs (P = .01).
• Intraoperative arrhythmias occurred in 30% of cases, with no difference between dogs receiving alpha-blockers and those not.
• Histologic vascular invasion occurred in ~70% of tumors.
• Tumor recurrence was suspected in 3 dogs, and metastasis in 8 dogs, though not histologically confirmed in most cases.
• Postoperative complications included refractory hypotension, acute kidney injury, and hypertension persisting >48 hours in 10 dogs.

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D CT volume rendering and CAL measurement successfully guided correction of femoral and tibial torsion in dogs with patellar luxation (PL).
• Physiological patellar tracking was restored in 100% (22/22) of cases after detorsional osteotomy.
• 94% of dogs (17/18) had either full or acceptable functional outcomes post-surgery.
• CAL-based correction was accurate in 19/22 cases, confirming reliability of the measurement technique.
• Complication rate was 45%, with major complications in 2/22 cases—both involved combined femoral and tibial osteotomies.
• Combined femoral and tibial osteotomies in the same limb were linked to a higher risk of complications and poorer outcomes.
• Diaphyseal osteotomies offered more implant space, but metaphyseal locations were associated with faster bone healing.
• Use of a TPLO jig or goniometer was not essential—CAL-based bone marking was sufficient in most cases.

🔍 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

• 20 dogs (26 shoulders) evaluated at mean 3.5 years post-surgery after arthroscopic or open debridement.
• Ipsilateral muscle atrophy and decreased range of motion (↓ extension, ↓ flexion) in affected limbs compared to contralateral healthy shoulders.
• All treated shoulders developed osteoarthritis, confirmed radiographically, by CT, and arthroscopically.
• Moderate to severe synovitis was present in all shoulders; lesions showed patchy, incomplete cartilage infilling even up to 8.9 years post-op.
• Kinetic gait analysis showed no significant differences in PVF/VI between affected and unaffected limbs, despite mild lameness clinically.
• Owners reported good to very good mobility (median LOAD = 6), often underestimating clinical lameness.
• CT detected larger lesion dimensions than radiographs (wider, deeper defects).
• Despite progression of OA, surgical debridement was associated with satisfactory long-term function, though not prevention of degenerative changes.

🔍 Key Findings

• MEFF occurred in 11.4% (10/88 elbows) following medial-to-lateral transcondylar screw placement in dogs with HIF.
• Screw size to condylar height ratio >41% significantly increased MEFF risk (P = .004, OR 1.52).
• MEFF was not recognized intraoperatively in 60% of cases and was only seen on follow-up or retrospective imaging review.
• Screw loosening was the most common complication (11.2%), observed both with and without MEFF.
• MEFF tended to increase the risk of screw loosening (P = .06), but was not statistically significant.
• Most MEFFs did not require treatment and healed radiographically by 14–17 weeks in monitored cases.
• Shaft screws were used in all MEFF cases, but shaft vs cortical design was not significantly associated with MEFF.
• The clinical impact of MEFF was minor in most cases, although long-term significance is unknown.

🔍 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.