
Quiz Question
In Kimura 2025 et al., on mini-THA in <4 kg dogs, what complication led to the discontinuation of a THA procedure in one case?
š Key Findings
- Zurich mini-cementless THA was successful in 9/10 hips in dogs <4 kg, with no lameness at 52 weeks in completed cases.
- Helsinki Chronic Pain Index significantly improved from a mean of 19.8 to 2.3 at 52 weeks (p = 0.0141).
- Fluoroscopy improved implant positioning, especially in LCPD and HD cases, aiding in accurate reaming and alignment.
- Intraoperative complications occurred in 2/10 cases, including acetabular fractures; one case required discontinuation.
- Prophylactic bicortical screws and reinforcement plates were used in cases with rotational instability or cortical compromise and were effective in preventing loosening/fractures.
- Medial patellar luxation improved postoperatively in one dog, though recurrence was noted later without surgical correction.
- No stem or implant loosening or fracture occurred over a mean follow-up of 24.4 months.
- CT is recommended in preoperative planning, particularly in luxoid hip dysplasia cases with uncertain bone stock.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Longāterm outcomes of 10 dogs weighing less than 4 kg after Zurich miniācementless total hip arthroplasty
2025-6-VS-kimura-4
In Guevara 2024 et al., on implant placement accuracy, what was the rate of acceptable pin placement using 3D-printed guides?
š Key Findings:
- Sample: 24 canine cadavers, 477 total pins across 240 vertebrae.
- Technique Comparison: 3D printed guides (3DPG) vs freehand (FH).
- Acceptable Placement Rates: 3DPG = 87.5%, FH = 69.8% (p < .0001).
- Odds Ratio for FH: 0.28 (95% CI 0.16ā0.47), significantly less likely to yield acceptable placement.
- Worst Accuracy Locations: T10 (OR 0.10), T11 (OR 0.35).
- Surgeon Impact: Surgeon 2 outperformed others (OR 9.61, p = .001).
- Modified Zdichavsky Classification used to score implant accuracy (Grades IāIIIb).
- Primary Benefit of 3DPG: Increased safety and precision, regardless of surgeon experience.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Ex vivo comparison of pin placement with patient-specific drill guides or freehand technique in canine cadaveric spines
2024-2-VS-guevara-1
In Nicolas 2024 et al., what was a key advantage of the lateral scapular osteotomy approach versus dorsal or ventral routes?
š 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.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopedics and Traumatology
2
2024
Scapular Osteotomy for Lateral Access to a T1-2 Foraminal Disc Extrusion, Treated by Mini-Hemilaminectomy in a Dog
2024-2-VCOT-nicolas-4
In Miller 2025 et al., on spinal drill guide accuracy, what was a reported technical benefit of the SOP plate when used with the 3D-printed guides?
š Key Findings
- 3D-printed, SOP plate-specific guides enabled safe screw placement from T12āL5 in canine cadavers and models.
- All 140 screw trajectories were classified as Zdichavski Grade 1, indicating optimal placement without vertebral canal breach.
- Screw angles (cranial-caudal and transverse) matched preoperative planning, with no significant deviation.
- Entry/exit point deviations were <1 mm on average, deemed clinically negligible.
- Drill guides were quick to place (<30 sec per vertebra) and improved ease of surgery.
- Plates acted as effective reduction tools, guiding alignment during screw placement in mobile spines.
- Minor technical challenges arose from cadaveric spine mobility, mitigated by sequential screw insertion.
- Technique may enable future use in fracture/luxation reduction, pending further cadaveric and clinical trials.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Development and testing of an animal-specific and string-of-pearls (SOP) plate specific, three-dimensionally (3D) printed drilling guide: A proof of concept study for canine thoracolumbar spinal stabilization
2025-6-VS-miller-3
In Violini 2024 et al., on 3D-guided spinal stabilization in brachycephalic dogs, what percentage of pedicle screws achieved optimal placement?
š Key Findings
- Spinal stabilization with 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides (3D-PSGs) was safe, with no immediate perioperative complications reported.
- 84% of pedicle screws were optimally placed, and only 0.5% breached the spinal canal, reflecting high placement accuracy.
- 80% of dogs experienced no neurologic deterioration postoperatively, indicating reliable short-term safety.
- 3D-PSGs were accurate and reproducible, even across multiple institutions and surgeons.
- Mid-term outcomes were favorable: all dogs were ambulatory, and 90% had static or improved neurologic signs.
- 7 of 10 mid-term follow-ups showed abnormal gait, though owners rated lifestyle ā„3/5, suggesting acceptable function.
- 3D-printed guides enabled precise pedicle screw placement in deformed vertebrae, expanding options in small breeds.
- One dog suffered a T4 spinous process fracture due to overextension of PMMA cement, emphasizing the need for cement placement caution.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Clinical outcomes of 20 brachycephalic dogs with thoracolumbar spinal deformities causing neurological signs treated with spinal stabilization using 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides
2024-4-VS-violini-1
In Deveci 2025 et al., on 3D drill guides, what was the median grade of sacral canal wall cortical breach?
š Key Findings
- Objective: Evaluate feasibility and accuracy of 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides for iliosacral screw placement in cadaver dogs.
- N = 10 canine cadavers (20 hemipelves); screw placement done using fluoroscopic-assisted patient-specific guides (PSG).
- Median cortical breach grade: 0 (IQR 0ā1) for all screws.
19/20 screws breached sacral canal wall (all ⤠grade 2), but no screws breached canal contents (grade 3). - Median trajectory deviation: 0.88° transverse, 0.72° dorsal.
- Procedure time: Median 7.2 minutes for guide placement and drilling.
- Conclusions: PSG-assisted screw placement was safe, accurate, and fast, offering clinical potential in pelvic trauma.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2025
Evaluation of 3Dāprinted patientāspecific guides to facilitate fluoroscopicāassisted iliosacral screw placement in dogs
2025-2-VS-deveci-1
In Ciammaichella 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, which lymphadenectomy site had the highest rate of postoperative complications?
š Key Findings
- Ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy had the highest complication rates: intraoperative (7%) and postoperative (41%)
- Axillary lymphadenectomy showed the lowest complication rates: intraoperative (1%) and postoperative (16%)
- Enlarged or metastatic lymph nodes were significantly associated with intraoperative complications (p = .030)
- Postoperative complications were mostly minor (Grade 1) and self-limiting (seromas, edema)
- Medial retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy had intermediate complication rates: postoperative complications in 26%
- No significant predictors retained significance in multivariate analysis
- Use of methylene blue was associated with fewer complications, although not statistically significant
- Complication rates did not result in mortality, and all were manageable; MST was 374 days
Veterinary Surgery
7
2025
Complications of medial retropharyngeal, axillary, and ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy in 127 dogs with malignant tumors
2025-7-VS-ciammaichella-1
In Scott 2025 et al., on acetabular cup revision, what was the functional outcome in dogs that completed follow-up?
š Key Findings
Population: 9 dogs underwent revision of osteointegrated acetabular cups after total hip arthroplasty (THA)
Revision Indications:
- 7 luxations (5 ventral, 2 craniodorsal)
- 1 femoral stem fracture
- 1 aseptic stem loosening
Implants:
- 8 BFX cups, 1 Helica; all revised to BFX
- 7/9 required a larger cup than original
Cup removal: Required sectioning with a high-speed burr and modular osteotome; removal fragments extracted
Complications:
- 1 recurrent luxation
- 1 low-grade infection with possible metallic debris-associated osteolysis
- 2 femoral fissures managed intraoperatively
Outcomes:
- Good to excellent function in 6/6 dogs available at median 621 days
- Minimal complications with success in re-osteointegration of new cup
Clinical takeaway: Revision of stable, ingrown cups is feasible and offers an alternative to pelvic osteotomies; typically requires upsizing
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Revision of osteointegrated acetabular cup prostheses in nine dogs
2025-3-VS-scott-5
In Scott 2025 et al., on acetabular cup revision, what was a notable complication observed postoperatively in some cases?
š Key Findings
Population: 9 dogs underwent revision of osteointegrated acetabular cups after total hip arthroplasty (THA)
Revision Indications:
- 7 luxations (5 ventral, 2 craniodorsal)
- 1 femoral stem fracture
- 1 aseptic stem loosening
Implants:
- 8 BFX cups, 1 Helica; all revised to BFX
- 7/9 required a larger cup than original
Cup removal: Required sectioning with a high-speed burr and modular osteotome; removal fragments extracted
Complications:
- 1 recurrent luxation
- 1 low-grade infection with possible metallic debris-associated osteolysis
- 2 femoral fissures managed intraoperatively
Outcomes:
- Good to excellent function in 6/6 dogs available at median 621 days
- Minimal complications with success in re-osteointegration of new cup
Clinical takeaway: Revision of stable, ingrown cups is feasible and offers an alternative to pelvic osteotomies; typically requires upsizing
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Revision of osteointegrated acetabular cup prostheses in nine dogs
2025-3-VS-scott-4
In Fitzpatrick 2024 et al., on ESF for pelvic fractures in cats, what was concluded regarding neurological complications?
š 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.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2024
External skeletal fixation for the treatment of pelvic fractures in cats
2024-7-VS-fitzpatrick-3
Quiz Results
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Key Findings
