🔍 Key Findings

• All dogs developed progressive osteoarthritis (OA) after surgical debridement of proximal humeral OC.
• Ipsilateral muscle atrophy and reduced shoulder range of motion were common, particularly in unilaterally affected dogs.
• Arthroscopically, lesions showed incomplete cartilage infilling even years after surgery, averaging only ~37% infilling.
• Synovitis was present in all joints, with moderate-to-severe hypertrophy and vascularity scores.
• CT identified OC lesions as deeper and wider than radiography, and all affected joints had more advanced OA than contralateral limbs (P = .001 radiograph, P = .005 CT).
• Kinetic gait analysis showed no significant differences in peak vertical force or impulse, but a subtle 4.4% asymmetric load reduction on the operated limb.
• Median LOAD score was 6, indicating mild owner-perceived disability despite measurable clinical and imaging abnormalities.
• Cartilage infilling was incomplete in all cases, with no lesion exceeding 60% restoration, raising questions about the healing potential of debridement alone.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Sample: 124 dogs (64 S, 60 FFP); French Bulldogs most common (54/124)
• Pre-op clinical signs: Exercise intolerance (34/124), stertor (22), regurgitation (7), vomiting (12)
• Operative time (no concurrent procedure): Longer in FFP (75 vs 51 min, p = .02)
• Anesthetic time: Longer in FFP (111 vs 80 min, p = .02)
• Anesthetic complications: Similar rates (FFP 50, S 49; p = .30)
• Post-op regurgitation: 27/124 (S: 17, FFP: 10; p = .18)
• Post-op aspiration pneumonia: Rare (S: 4, FFP: 5)
• Major complications: Rare (5/124); 2 dogs euthanized post-op (1 per group)
• Revision surgery: Needed in 7/124 (3 S, 4 FFP)

🔍 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

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

The study included 162 deep-pain-negative dogs undergoing decompressive surgery (hemilaminectomy) for acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE).

Ambulatory recovery occurred in 53.1% of dogs (86/162).

The best performing machine-learning model was XGBoost, with an AUC of 0.9502 and accuracy of 89.1%, outperforming Ridge, AdaBoost, and Naive Bayes models.

Preoperative-only XGBoost models were less accurate, with AUC dropping to 0.8271 and accuracy to 71.9%.

Top predictive features (by SHAP analysis) included:

1. T2-weighted to L2 spinal cord signal ratio (lower values predicted better outcome)
2. Use of fenestration (presence associated with better recovery)
3. Hospitalization duration
4. Imaging modality used
5. Duration of nonambulatory status

Machine learning provided better insight into prognostic factors than traditional statistical methods.

🔍 Key Findings

Subject: 7-year-old Labrador underwent cementless total knee replacement (TKR) due to severe stifle OA.

Clinical function:

• Improved ROM from 90° pre-op to 120° post-op.
• Weight-bearing increased from toe-touching to 70% bodyweight by 6 weeks post-op.
• No visible lameness by 14 weeks.

Implant performance:

• No complications at any follow-up points.
• No osteolysis, loosening, or metallosis at 6-year necropsy.

Wear evaluation:

• Mild UHMWPE insert wear, localized to caudal edges.

Histologic findings:

• Robust osseointegration at implant-bone interface.
• Fibrous tissue only in areas lacking porous coating.

Conclusion:

• Cementless TKR demonstrated excellent 6-year survival and functional outcomes.
• Support for considering early surgical intervention in severe stifle OA.

🔍 Key Findings

• 12.5% overall incidence of SSI after limb amputation, and 10.9% for clean procedures.
• Bipolar vessel sealing device use for muscle transection significantly increased SSI risk (OR 2.5; P = .023).
• Monopolar electrosurgery and sharp transection were not associated with increased SSI risk.
• Non-clean wound classification increased SSI odds (OR 8.2; P = .003).
• Amputation for infection (OR 5.7) or trauma (OR 4.5) significantly increased SSI risk compared to neoplasia.
• Preoperative infections at distant sites did not significantly increase SSI risk.
• Neither surgery/anesthesia duration, hypothermia, hypotension, nor skin closure method significantly affected SSI risk.
• Study supports avoiding bipolar sealing devices for muscle transection in limb amputations to reduce SSI risk.

🔍 Key Findings

Mortality rate: 36% (12/33)
Cholecystectomy performed: 94% of dogs (31/33)
New significant prognostic factors for survival:

• Hyperbilirubinemia (p = .049) — threshold = 60.5 μmol/L
• Use of vasopressors (p = .002)
• Renal dysfunction postoperatively (p = .008)
• Number of postoperative complications (p = .005)

Multivariate model: Total bilirubin and number of complications best predicted survival
Septic vs nonseptic effusion: No significant difference in survival
Diagnostic imaging: Ultrasound sensitivity for extrahepatic biliary rupture = 38%
Most cultured pathogen: E. coli (80% of septic cases)

🔍 Key Findings

• Only 1 of 12 dogs (8.3%) cultured the same single organism (Staphylococcus schleiferi) at TECA and dehiscence sites.
• In 58.3% (7/12), none of the bacteria from TECA cultures were found at dehiscence.
• Staphylococcus spp. were isolated in 83.3% of dehiscence samples.
• Methicillin resistance was high among Staphylococcus isolates: 80% at dehiscence.
• Antibiotic susceptibility differed in 57% (4/7) of cases where the same bacteria were cultured at both time points.
• TECA cultures were not predictive of bacteria at incisional dehiscence.
• 75% of dogs healed with either medical or surgical management.

Recommendation: Repeat cultures at dehiscence to guide antibiotic therapy.