
Your Custom Quiz
In Barnes 2024 et al., on knot strength testing, which of the following statements is true about unraveling?
🔍 Key Findings
- Double forwarder (DF) knots had significantly higher knot holding capacity (KHC) than square (SQ) and surgeon’s (SU) knots when tied with <6 throws.
- In 3 USP polyglactin 910, DF knots with 4–5 throws were not significantly stronger than SU knots with 6–8 throws (p > .43).
- DF knots never unraveled, while SQ and SU knots with 4–5 throws showed substantial unraveling.
- KHC did not increase in DF knots when throws increased from 3 to 5.
- Knot volume and weight were significantly higher in DF knots than SQ/SU knots at the same throw count (p < .003).
- DF knots allow sliding placement, potentially useful in minimally invasive or deep cavity procedures.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Evaluation of the in vitro performance of the double forwarder knot, compared to square and surgeon's knots using large gauge suture
2024-2-VS-barnes-2
In Lotsikas 2025 et al., on stifle distraction portal, what was the mean time required to place the thrust lever using the proximal lateral portal?
🔍 Key Findings
Study type: Cadaveric stifle arthroscopy in large breed dogs (n=12 joints from 6 dogs)
Goal: Describe and assess the proximal lateral portal for insertion of a Ventura stifle thrust lever (VSTL)
Main results:
- No damage to the long digital extensor tendon (LDE) with this portal
- VSTL could be placed without removing the arthroscope
- Portal creation time ~37 seconds (faster than previously reported)
Cartilage impact:
- Superficial iatrogenic articular cartilage injury (IACI) present in all specimens
- No difference in IACI between 5- and 10-minute lever durations
- Zone 4 (lateral femoral condyle) had significantly more damage than zones 1–3 (p < .05)
Conclusion: Portal was safe, repeatable, minimally invasive, and did not increase cartilage damage with up to 10-minute lever use
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Proximal lateral insertion portal of an intra-articular arthroscopic stifle lever: A cadaveric study
2025-3-VS-lotsikas-3
In Anderson 2024 et al., what recommendation did authors give to help detect this complication early?
🔍 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
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
3
2024
Permanent Iatrogenic Fibular Nerve Injury following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy
2024-3-VCOT-anderson-5
In Mazdarani 2022 et al., on CBLO and stifle biomechanics, when did cranial tibial translation (CTT) occur after CBLO **without** hamstring loading?
🔍 Key Findings
- CBLO reduced tibial plateau angle (TPA) from a mean of 28.1° to 9.7°, aligning with its goal of flattening the tibial slope.
- CBLO eliminated cranial tibial translation (CTT) following CCL transection and meniscal release at all angles except 140° without hamstring load.
- Hamstring loading (20% quadriceps load) significantly reduced or delayed the onset of CTT, improving stifle stability.
- Medial meniscus was confirmed as a secondary stabilizer; its release (MMR) caused more CTT than CCLx alone.
- PTA (patellar tendon angle) increased with joint extension; CBLO shifted the PTA curve lower and parallel to intact values, suggesting effective flexion of the joint.
- Combined CBLO and hamstring loading resulted in the most stable joints, especially from 50° to 135° joint angles.
- Residual CTT occurred in CBLO-only limbs at higher extension angles (e.g., 140°), but hamstring load mitigated this.
- Stifle stability post-CBLO is multifactorial, depending on joint angle, meniscal integrity, and hamstring activation.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2022
Effect of center of rotation of angulation‐based leveling osteotomy on ex vivo stifle joint stability following cranial cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscal release with and without a hamstring load
2022-6-VS-mazdarani-2
In Jourdain 2024 et al., on fluoroscopic fixation of feline SIL, what tool enabled accurate screw guidance during surgery?
🔍 Key Findings
- Minimally invasive fluoroscopic technique yielded median reduction of 94.1% immediately postoperative.
- Screw purchase ≥60% in sacral body achieved in 82% of cases, with median purchase of 73.3%.
- One screw exited caudally; no dorsal, ventral, or cranial exits reported.
- At 7-week follow-up, reduction and purchase slightly declined but remained effective (p = .008 and p = .013).
- No screw loosening observed, even in suboptimal reductions or purchases.
- Pelvic canal width and symmetry (PCDR and HCWR) were restored and maintained.
- Excellent long-term function: FMPI ≥0.98 in 9 of 10 cats; owners reported 10/10 satisfaction.
- Fluoroscopy enabled accurate screw placement and minimized tissue trauma, contributing to rapid recovery.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Fluoroscopically-assisted closed reduction and percutaneous fixation of sacroiliac luxations in cats using 2.4 mm headless cannulated compression screws: Description, evaluation and clinical outcome
2024-4-VS-jourdain-4
In Walker 2022 et al., on TPLO mRUST scoring, which minimum score was associated with a 99% likelihood of subjective union?
🔍 Key Findings
- TPLO mRUST scoring showed improved inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.56) compared to subjective evaluation (Kappa = 0.33).
- Intra-rater reliability was similar for both methods (TPLO mRUST: 0.73, subjective: 0.72).
- TPLO mRUST scores ≥10/12 strongly correlated with radiographic union, as subjectively assessed (99% agreement).
- No significant difference in healing between first and second TPLO sides (P = .09), countering assumptions about load-bearing impact.
- Higher initial lameness scores and younger age were associated with higher TPLO mRUST scores, suggesting more robust healing in those groups.
- Postoperative complications were linked to lower TPLO mRUST scores, indicating impaired healing.
- Medial cortex was excluded from scoring due to plate obstruction, validating use of only 3 cortices for scoring.
- The TPLO mRUST system may standardize healing assessment, reducing subjective bias across specialties.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2022
Evaluation of a modified radiographic union scale for tibial fractures scoring system in staged bilateral tibial plateau leveling osteotomy procedures and comparison of first and second side radiographic bone healing
2022-8-VS-walker-2
In Eskelinen 2025 et al., on Plate–Pin fixation for MPL, what was the rate of patellar luxation recurrence?
🔍 Key Findings
- Plate–Pin TTT fixation resolved MPL in 64/65 stifles with low recurrence (1.5%) and good lameness outcomes postoperatively.
- Complication rate was 21.5% (14/65 stifles), mostly minor (57%); major issues included pin migration, fracture, or capsular failure.
- Pin-related issues accounted for 8 of 20 total complications, highlighting implant refinement is needed.
- No avulsions, TT fixation failures, or luxation recurrence occurred in cases where surgical technique was followed precisely.
- Surgical deviations increased complication risk 11.3× (p < 0.05), suggesting adherence to protocol is critical.
- Single-session bilateral MPL surgery had comparable complication rate (3/20) to unilateral surgery (11/45).
- Screw breakage occurred in 3 cases, suggesting at least 3 screws may be needed for secure TT fixation.
- Authors suggest temporary pin fixation and later removal may reduce complications, though prospective studies are needed.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
4
2025
Outcome and Complications Following Medial Patellar Luxation Corrective Surgery with Tibial Tuberosity Transposition Using a Locking Plate and a Pin Fixation: 45 Unilateral and 20 Single-Session Bilateral Procedures
2025-4-VCOT-eskelinen-1
In Isono 2025 et al., on tibial malalignment in MPL, which finding best characterized grade 4 medial patellar luxation?
🔍 Key Findings
- Proximal Tibia Metatarsal Angle (PTMTA) was significantly increased in dogs with grade 3 and 4 MPL, making it a useful marker for severity.
- PTMTA strongly correlated with Tibial Torsion Angle (TTA) (r = 0.733) and Crural Rotation Angle (CRA) (r = 0.643), integrating multiple morphological deformities.
- Grade 4 MPL cases showed significant internal tibial torsion, increased mMPTA, and decreased MDTT/PTW—indicating both rotation and medial displacement.
- DTMTA was significantly more negative in grade 4, indicating a consistent pattern of internal foot rotation with disease severity.
- PTMTA can be visually assessed during palpation, offering preoperative utility without CT.
- Among toy poodles, PTMTA showed significant differences even between grades 3 and normal, suggesting breed-specific severity patterns.
- Corrective osteotomy may need to address tibial as well as femoral deformities in severe MPL cases with high PTMTA.
- Younger dogs with grade 4 MPL had more severe deformities, possibly due to early onset or developmental progression.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
4
2025
Tibial Torsion Malalignment in Small Dogs with Medial Patellar Luxation
2025-4-VCOT-isono-2
In Mattioli 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, which intraoperative guidance technique was associated with the lowest complication rate?
🔍 Key Findings
Sample: 201 lymphadenectomies in 163 dogs.
Intraoperative techniques:
- Unassisted: 36%
- Methylene blue (MB): 24%
- Gamma probe + MB (γ-MB): 40%
Complication rate: 7.5% overall (93% uncomplicated)
- 80% were mild, 20% moderate; no severe complications
- Most common = seroma (2.5%), lymphoedema (1.5%)
Risk factors (via decision tree model):
- Surgical time > 21.5 min
- Lymph node site = mandibular or retropharyngeal
No significant difference in complication rate based on:
- Guidance technique (p = .255)
- LN palpability, number removed, or LN size
Clinical implication: Peripheral SLN excision is safe regardless of intraoperative technique; certain sites and durations carry slightly higher risk.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2025
Peripheral sentinel lymphadenectomy in 163 dogs: Postoperative surgical complications and comparison between intraoperative dissection techniques
2025-4-VS-mattioli-2
In Thibault 2023 et al., on DPO for THR luxation, what was the most common long-term outcome observed after performing DPO to manage craniodorsal luxation in dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) reduced angle of lateral opening (ALO) by a median of 11° (p ≤ .001).
- Despite ALO correction, THR reluxation occurred in 5/11 dogs, often within 7 days post-DPO.
- Post-DPO ALO remained elevated (median 56°), with only 2 dogs achieving the recommended 35–45° range.
- Explantation was required in 7/11 dogs (5 aseptic loosenings, 2 infections), suggesting poor long-term implant survival.
- Dogs with luxoid hips were more likely to fail, even with corrected ALO, emphasizing soft tissue instability as a risk factor.
- Compared to TPO (23° correction), DPO yielded a smaller ALO correction, possibly due to older dog population and less elastic pelvis.
- No ventral luxation occurred post-DPO, unlike in TPO studies, likely due to more conservative ALO reduction.
- Authors do not recommend routine DPO for THR luxation due to high complication and failure rates.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2023
Poor success rates with double pelvic osteotomy for craniodorsal luxation of total hip prosthesis in 11 dogs
2023-8-VS-thibault-1
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings
