🔍 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

• 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.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• 62 fractures in 61 dogs (44 lateral condylar, 18 intracondylar); mostly Spaniels
• LEAP plate used in all cases; minimal intraoperative contouring needed (1 French Bulldog)
• Overall complication rate: ~33%, mostly minor; 1 amputation due to catastrophic infection
• Radiographic healing:
  • Lateral epicondylar part healed in 100%
  • Condylar part healed in ~61.5% LCF and ~57.1% ICF
• Functional outcomes:
  • 87% returned to full limb use
  • Median LOAD score: 2 for LCF, 6.5 for ICF
• Design adjustments made post-study to strengthen weak zones around 3rd–4th screw holes

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• The lateral approach via scapular osteotomy allowed safe access to the T1-2 foramen in a French Bulldog with foraminal disc extrusion.
• A mini-hemilaminectomy was performed, preserving articular facets.
• The dog had no neurologic deficits postoperatively, returned to ambulation within 24 hours, and was discharged in 3 days.
• At 10 months, CT confirmed excellent scapular healing and no recurrence.
• Double 2.4-mm locking plates provided stable fixation across the scapular spine.
• The technique avoided thoracic entry or dorsal spine dissection, suggesting a less invasive alternative for select T1-2 foraminal cases.

🔍 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

Study population: 73 hips from 60 dogs undergoing cementless THR.
Methods evaluated:

• ACVD/ACOLL (acetabular circle on VD or OLL view)
• ALVD/ALOLL (acetabular line)
• FHCVD/FHCOLL/FHCCCHB (femoral head circle)

• Intraobserver repeatability and interobserver consistency were excellent for ACVD and ACOLL.
• FHC methods consistently underestimated actual cup size by 2.4–3.6 mm.
• AC and AL methods had low bias (±0.5 mm) and better predictive value.
• OA severity negatively affected the accuracy of all measurements (p < .05).
• Highest predictive accuracy was ~49% using ACVD with rounding down protocol.

🔍 Key Findings

• 42% of dogs (33/78) treated with Arthrex 3.5 mm STS during TPLO developed radiographic TCTF
• TCTFs occurred exclusively distal to the osteotomy
• 14% of screws (36/250) distal to the osteotomy were associated with TCTFs
• 6% of dogs with TCTFs developed major complications (e.g., complete tibial fracture requiring surgical revision)
• Angulation of cortical STS screws, especially in the distal plate holes, was a key contributor to complications
• Locking screws were also involved, but cortical screws angled improperly were overrepresented in serious outcomes
• Revision recommendations included preemptive fixation for large TCTFs or angulated screw placements
• Use of non-self-tapping screws (NSTS) previously showed a <1% TCTF rate, supporting higher risk with STS

🔍 Key Findings

• Short working length constructs had significantly higher stiffness and lower strain than long constructs in compression bending (p = 0.0172).
• In tension bending, short constructs also had higher precontact stiffness and lower strain, but this reversed after transcortical contact (~150 N).
• Transcortical contact increased stiffness only in long constructs, producing a bilinear load-displacement curve.
• Postcontact stiffness was higher in long constructs, but this may not reflect clinical benefit due to risks of high interfragmentary strain.
• Short working length reduced strain at multiple ROIs under both loading conditions, including over fracture gap (Tables 1–3).
• Increased working length promoted stress concentration and deformation, especially in compression bending.
• In vitro benefits of long constructs (via contact stability) may not translate to healing, as repetitive loading could increase plate strain and bone resorption.
• Plate strain was effectively mapped using 3D digital image correlation, confirming regional strain differences between configurations.

🔍 Key Findings

• The study was a prospective clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed, patient-specific reduction system for aligning diaphyseal tibial fractures stabilized using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) in fifteen client-owned dogs.
• Virtual surgical planning (VSP) and fabrication were feasible within a clinically relevant timeframe, with a mean of 50.7 hours. Surgical efficiency improved with experience.
• Pin-guide placement was accurate, with median translational discrepancies of 2.7 mm (proximal) and 2.9 mm (distal), and angular discrepancies highest in the axial plane.
• The proximal guide was easier to apply (median Likert score: 8) than the distal guide (median: 6).
• The 3D-printed system enabled near-anatomic reduction in 87% of cases and acceptable reduction in the remaining 13%; no unacceptable reductions occurred.
• Postoperative alignment and tibial length were well-restored, with all dogs within 5° or 5 mm of contralateral measurements.
• Temporary circular fixation was occasionally used to assist reduction and improve alignment.
• Precontoured plates fit easily, with a median Likert score of 9; total surgical time was shorter than conventional MIPO at the institution.
• The study lacked a control group but builds on prior cadaveric feasibility work.

🔍 Key Findings

• External skeletal fixation (ESF) was successfully applied to a variety of pelvic fracture types in cats, including sacroiliac luxations and ilial body fractures.
• All fractures achieved radiographic union within 9 weeks, even in comminuted or complex configurations.
• No intraoperative or long-term complications were reported during the study period.
• Implant loosening was observed radiographically in 13% of cases, with 8% of pins found to be loose at frame removal.
• ESF enabled indirect fracture reduction using components as handles, with a limited open approach minimizing soft tissue disruption.
• No iatrogenic neurological deficits were observed, supporting safe pin placement near neurovascular structures, although some cats presented with pre-existing neurologic signs.
• No cases required revision surgery, and all cats underwent stabilization solely with ESF as per study inclusion criteria.
• Postoperative hospitalization ranged from 2 to 5 days, though no comparison to other fixation types was evaluated.