🔍 Key Findings

Objective: Validate a new 3D CT-based method for measuring tibial torsion in dogs with MPL, comparing it to a traditional method.

Sample: 40 tibiae from client-owned dogs with MPL (primarily small-breed).

Repeatability (intraobserver):

• New method: ICC = 0.99 → excellent agreement

Reproducibility (interobserver):

• New method: ICC = 0.83 → high agreement
• Traditional method: ICC = 0.52 → moderate agreement

Torsion angle measurements:

• New method avg: 16.00° ± 8.77
• Traditional method avg: 8.76° ± 4.92

Conclusion: The new method is more repeatable, reproducible, and provides higher torsion values than the traditional Aper method, especially reliable for small-breed dogs.

🔍 Key Findings

• CESF with distraction osteogenesis restored elbow congruity and normalized aLDRA in skeletally immature dogs with PCDRP.
• Radial head subluxation was eliminated in all dogs, and elbow incongruity reduced significantly (from 6.1 mm to 0.3 mm, p <.01).
• Mean radial lengthening of 22.6 mm (∼11% of normal length) was achieved, but only 80% of recorded distraction translated to length gain.
• Major complications occurred in 2/12 dogs: one with permanent carpal contracture, one with radial fracture at wire tract.
• Minor complications (e.g., carpal pain, restricted extension, synostosis, pin tract issues) were noted in 10/12 dogs but generally resolved.
• Owner surveys (8/12 dogs) reported good to excellent long-term function, even up to 6 years post-op.
• Radial valgus deformities were moderate (mean 15°) and less severe than deformities from ulnar physeal closure.
• Surgical strategy included staged distraction, with radial or combined radius/ulna distraction guided by fluoroscopy and adjusted per case.

🔍 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.

🔍 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 Summary

• Retrospective study of 33 fractures in 31 cats with Salter–Harris I or II distal femoral fractures
• Used 1 intramedullary Steinmann pin + 1 laterally placed antirotational pin
• 96.9% achieved full functional outcome at mid-term follow-up
• No implant migration or removal required
• Minor complications: 2 seromas; Major: 3 (patellar luxation [2], osteomyelitis [1])
• Growth plate remained open in 27.3% of cases at 6–8 weeks post-op

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Study Design: Retrospective study of 100 radiographs using in silico and clinical data
• Mean preoperative TPA: 28.6°, higher in small dogs than large (p = .02)
• Mean planned TPA (in silico): 7.6°, not achieving 5° target (p < .01)
• Median postoperative TPA: 5.5° overall; higher in small dogs (7°) vs large (4.5°) (p = .06)
• Postoperative ostectomy position: More distal than recommended; average = 8.6 mm
• Increased distalization → greater under-correction of TPA (p = .01)
• Most accurate correction occurred when ostectomy was ≤7.5 mm from patellar tendon
• Wedge angle categories (TPA-Pre minus 5–2°) were used based on pre-op TPA

🔍 Key Findings

Population: 24 dogs (<8.5 months) undergoing unilateral cementless THR.
Growth Impact:

• Operated femurs showed ~11.5% less trochanteric growth than controls (p = .002).
• No significant difference in femoral diaphyseal + epiphyseal length (p = .712) or femur overall (p = .465).

Cortical Width:

• Increased significantly at 10 mm distal to trochanter (4.6% increase, p = .037) and at 50% femoral length (8.5% increase, p = .030).

Clinical relevance: Despite measurable changes, no clinically significant impairment to femoral length occurred.
Effect Sizes:

• Moderate negative for trochanteric growth.
• Moderate positive for proximal femoral width.

🔍 Key Findings

Population: 24 dogs (<8.5 months) undergoing unilateral cementless THR.
Growth Impact:

• Operated femurs showed ~11.5% less trochanteric growth than controls (p = .002).
• No significant difference in femoral diaphyseal + epiphyseal length (p = .712) or femur overall (p = .465).

Cortical Width:

• Increased significantly at 10 mm distal to trochanter (4.6% increase, p = .037) and at 50% femoral length (8.5% increase, p = .030).

Clinical relevance: Despite measurable changes, no clinically significant impairment to femoral length occurred.
Effect Sizes:

• Moderate negative for trochanteric growth.
• Moderate positive for proximal femoral width.

🔍 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.

🔍 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