Quiz Question
In Muroi 2025 et al., on refracture risk, what factor was significantly associated with refracture in dogs **retaining plates**?
🔍 Key Findings
- Refracture occurred in 5.5% of limbs, with higher incidence in the plate removal group (12.5%) vs. non-removal (3.5%).
- In the non-plate removal group, refractures occurred at the most distal screw site, linked to greater screw position change during growth (OR 1.79, p=0.04).
- Screw-to-bone diameter ratio (SBDR) >0.4 was a significant risk factor for refracture in the plate retention group.
- In the plate removal group, refractures occurred at the original fracture site, associated with lower pixel value ratio (bone mineral density) and reduced radial thickness.
- Implant-induced osteoporosis (IIO) beneath the plate likely contributed to refracture risk after plate removal.
- Younger age at fracture (<6 months) was associated with higher refracture risk due to ongoing radial growth and shifting screw position.
- No significant association was found between refracture and plate type (locking vs conventional), fixation method, or ulnar union.
- Recommendations include careful SBDR sizing, motion restriction, and cautious plate removal decisions in growing dogs.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
2
2025
A Retrospective Study of Risk Factors Associated with Refracture after Repair of Radial–Ulnar Fractures in Small-Breed Dogs
2025-2-VCOT-muroi-1
In Von Pfeil 2024 et al., on acute ulnar shortening in dogs, what was the median time to radiographic bone healing?
🔍 Key Findings
- All dogs (11/11) showed improved radiohumeral articulation postoperatively, confirmed arthroscopically.
- Median shortening: radioulnar (3.2 mm), humeroradial (1.8 mm), humeroulnar (1.2 mm).
- Median lameness score improved from 2/4 to 1/4 by final follow-up.
- Bone healing achieved in a median of 8 weeks (range: 4–14 weeks).
- No major complications; minor issues included 1 screw loosening and 1 superficial infection.
- Subjective function was graded full in 4 dogs, acceptable in 7.
- Arthroscopy enabled accurate dynamic joint assessment, preferred over static radiographs.
- Use of both orthopedic wire and plating provided secure fixation and improved outcomes.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2024
Outcomes of 11 dogs with short radius syndrome treated with acute arthroscopically assisted ulnar shortening
2024-3-VS-pfeil-1
In Condon 2024 et al., what percentage of fractures were classified as lateral humeral condylar fractures?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Lateral humeral condylar fractures = 69.8% of cases; medial = 16.2%; Y/T = 14.0%
- Falls/stairs were the inciting trauma in 45.6% of cases; significantly younger dogs were more likely to fracture after major trauma (p = 0.01)
- Complication rate = 22% (10 major, 20 minor); implant migration and seroma most common
- Fixation method had no significant impact on complication rates (p = 0.87)
- Epicondylar comminution was significantly associated with complications (p = 0.02, OR = 3.27)
- Contralateral intracondylar fissure found in 9.8%, none progressed to fracture during study
- Wide inter-center variation in complication rate (5–62%, p = 0.002)
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
2
2024
Humeral Condylar Fractures in French Bulldogs—Inciting Cause and Factors Influencing Complications of Internal Fixation in 136 Dogs
2024-2-VCOT-condon-2
In Anderson 2023 et al., on French Bulldogs with humeral condylar fractures, which fracture configuration was most common?
🔍 Key Findings
- Lateral humeral condylar fractures (LHCF) were most common, comprising 63.6% of cases.
- Transcondylar screw (TCS) + K-wire(s) fixation had a 7.62x higher risk of major complications compared to other methods (p = .009).
- All cases of TCS migration occurred in the TCS + K-wire group; none occurred with plate fixation.
- Overall complication rate was 40.9%, with 29.5% being major and requiring intervention.
- Contralateral humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) were found in 58.1% of French Bulldogs with CT data.
- No significant association between age and presence of HIF, but fissure length increased with age (R = 0.47, p = .048).
- Younger, lighter dogs had higher complication and screw migration rates, possibly due to softer bone and smaller condyles.
- TCS + plate fixation had the lowest complication rate, suggesting biomechanical superiority.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2023
Humeral condylar fractures and fissures in the French bulldog
2023-1-VS-anderson-1
In Story 2024 et al., on eTPA osteotomy comparison, which technique resulted in the **greatest mechanical axis shift**?
🔍 Key Findings
- Population: 16 dogs (27 tibias), TPA >34°
- Techniques analyzed:
- Group A: CBLO + CCWO
- Group B: TPLO + CCWO
- Group C: mCCWO
- Group D: PTNWO
- Outcomes:
- All groups achieved post-correction TPA < 14°.
- Group A: Slight over-correction (mean TPA 10.47°); greatest mechanical axis shift.
- Group B: Tibial shortening (~0.58%); least mechanical axis shift.
- Group C: Lowest post-correction TPA (mean 4.76°); under-correction.
- Group D: High accuracy, minimal shortening (mean 7.09° post).
- Statistical Significance:
- Significant differences in tibial length change and mCrDTA (mechanical axis shift) between groups (p <.05).
- TPA correction accuracy: Group A (1.02), B (0.95), C (0.89), D (0.98).
Veterinary Surgery
1
2024
Morphologic impact of four surgical techniques to correct excessive tibial plateau angle in dogs: A theoretical radiographic analysis
2024-1-VS-story-1
In Pfund 2025 et al., on femoral cortical thickness, what was the key preoperative radiographic predictor of femoral fissure or fracture in dogs undergoing THR?
🔍 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.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Femoral cortical thickness index in a population of dogs undergoing total hip replacement
2025-6-VS-pfund-1
In Evers 2022 et al., on bone-to-tendon plate fixation, what was the primary reason for anchoring the plate to the tendon instead of the bone?
🔍 Key Findings
- Bone-to-tendon plate fixation allowed successful stabilization of a highly comminuted calcaneus fracture in a dog with fragments too small for traditional fixation.
- The plate was sutured to the common calcaneal tendon using a figure-of-8 pattern, bypassing the need for screw fixation into small proximal fragments.
- Radiographic union was achieved by 17 weeks, though considered delayed, with the dog returning to normal function by 36 weeks post-op.
- A second surgery was required to replace the tendon-anchored plate with a calcaneus-only plate due to skin ulceration and implant prominence.
- Implant-associated infection was suspected; cultures confirmed Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, managed with doxycycline and clindamycin.
- Use of human placental matrix (hPM) and both autogenous and allogenic bone grafts supported healing, though their specific contribution remains uncertain.
- Postoperative complications included delayed union and skin ulceration, emphasizing challenges of implant design and soft tissue management.
- This is the first report of using a bone-to-tendon plate for a calcaneus fracture in dogs and demonstrates its potential in cases where traditional methods are not viable.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2022
Use of a bone‐to‐tendon plate to stabilize a comminuted calcaneus fracture in a dog
2022-5-VS-evers-1
In Danielski 2022 et al., on PAUL complications, what percentage of limbs experienced major complications?
🔍 Key Findings
- Major complications occurred in 25.6% of limbs treated with PAUL, including non-union, implant failure, and infection requiring revision surgery.
- Increased body weight was significantly associated with a higher risk of complications (7% increased risk per additional kg; p = .04).
- Post-operative radiographic assessment was unreliable in predicting complications; inter-observer agreement was poor (kappa ≤ 0.12).
- Expert evaluation of implant or reduction errors had low predictive value (k < 0.2) for postoperative complications.
- Common major complications included non-union (6 limbs), screw breakage, and surgical site infections.
- Implant removal was required in 11.5% of limbs, mostly due to non-union or infection.
- Being a Labrador appeared protective on univariate analysis, but not on multivariate analysis after adjusting for weight.
- Radiographs showing suboptimal plate placement or osteotomy reduction did not reliably correlate with actual complication occurrence.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Complications after proximal abducting ulnar osteotomy and prognostic factors in 66 dogs
2022-1-VS-danielski-4
In Welsh 2023 et al., on TTAF fixation methods, what approximate % of the **strength** did the single-pin construct achieve compared to two-pin fixation?
🔍 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.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2023
Biomechanical comparison of one pin versus two pin fixation in a canine tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture model
2023-5-VS-welsh-3
In Jourdain 2024 et al., on fluoroscopic fixation of feline SIL, what percentage of screws had ≥60% purchase within the sacral body?
🔍 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-2
Quiz Results
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Key Findings