🔍 Key Findings

The study included 162 deep-pain-negative dogs undergoing decompressive surgery (hemilaminectomy) for acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE).

Ambulatory recovery occurred in 53.1% of dogs (86/162).

The best performing machine-learning model was XGBoost, with an AUC of 0.9502 and accuracy of 89.1%, outperforming Ridge, AdaBoost, and Naive Bayes models.

Preoperative-only XGBoost models were less accurate, with AUC dropping to 0.8271 and accuracy to 71.9%.

Top predictive features (by SHAP analysis) included:

1. T2-weighted to L2 spinal cord signal ratio (lower values predicted better outcome)
2. Use of fenestration (presence associated with better recovery)
3. Hospitalization duration
4. Imaging modality used
5. Duration of nonambulatory status

Machine learning provided better insight into prognostic factors than traditional statistical methods.

🔍 Key Findings

• Needle arthroscopy (NA) had 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosing medial meniscal tears in dogs with CCLR.
• NA missed 1 medial and 1 lateral meniscal tear, both nondisplaced and stable.
• Visibility of all meniscal horns was significantly lower with NA compared to standard arthroscopy (SA) (P < .005 for all horns).
• Probing the caudal horn of the lateral meniscus was significantly more difficult with NA (P = .0017), though medial horn probing was similar.
• Mean NA procedure time was 8 ± 3 minutes, significantly shorter than SA (15 ± 9 min, P = .0041).
• No increase in lameness observed after NA, indicating minimal procedural morbidity.
• NA was performed under sedation in most dogs, though 10/26 required additional chemical restraint or short anesthesia.
• NA was most accurate for displaced vertical longitudinal tears, with all 14 correctly identified; one stable tear and a lateral tear were missed.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• 16 dogs (18 stifles) with CrCL rupture and TPA >34° were treated using the DCTPLO
• Mean TPA correction: from 39.4° to 6.3°
• Bone union at 60 days in 17/18 stifles; remaining healed by 90 days
• Minor complications (e.g., small wedge gaps) in 2/18 stifles — no major complications
• Patellar ligament thickening seen in 16/18 stifles but no clinical signs noted
• The technique enabled safer reduction with less risk of tibial crest fracture vs. conventional TPLO

🔍 Key Findings

140 laparoscopic surgeons surveyed; 37% reported at least one musculoskeletal disorder.
Women had significantly higher odds of reporting WRMD (OR = 2.59, p = .011).
Smaller glove size significantly associated with WRMD (p = .001), shoulder tendonitis (p = .01), and neck strain (p = .001).
Most common injuries: Neck strain (35%), shoulder tendonitis (31%).
WRMD was associated with greater difficulty using:

• Rotating cup biopsy forceps (p < .001)
• Vessel sealing device and endo stapler (especially in those with shoulder injuries)

No significant association with surgeon age, dominant hand, height, weight, or case volume.

🔍 Key Findings

• Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization (AA-HTS) was successfully completed in all 14 feline cadaver joints.
• Femoral and acetabular tunnel creation was feasible in all cases, though femoral tunnel placement had a higher rate of deviations.
• Intraoperative complications occurred in 5/14 joints, mostly related to femoral tunnel creation and toggle lodging.
• Minor articular cartilage injury (<10% total cartilage area) occurred in 10/14 joints, but no injury to neurovascular or intrapelvic structures.
• Thirteen surgical technique deviations (8 major, 5 minor) were identified in 7 joints, all involving the femoral tunnel.
• Toggle passage through the femoral tunnel was the most challenging step, being mildly difficult in 6 joints.
• Postoperative CT and gross dissection confirmed all toggles and buttons were in correct position, without damage to major surrounding structures.
• No deviations, complications, or cartilage injuries occurred in the last 4 joints, suggesting a learning curve effect.

🔍 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

Design: In vitro study on cadaveric femurs (n=21) with basilar femoral neck fractures stabilized using 2 vs 3 titanium cannulated screws.

Stiffness: Control > 3-screw > 2-screw (674 > 120 > 90 N/mm).

Yield Load: 3-screw (586 N) > 2-screw (303 N); both < intact femur (2692 N).

Displacement: No difference across groups.

Complication: 3-screw technique more demanding; higher risk of cortical perforation, especially with narrow femoral necks.

Failure Mode: Dislodgement of femoral head + screw shaft bending.

Conclusion: 3 screws = stronger construct than 2 screws. Clinical implications need further study.

🔍 Key Findings

• PCCLm resulted in significantly fewer postoperative lower urinary tract signs compared to OC (13.0% vs 60.9%, p <.001).
• Incomplete urolith removal was not significantly different between PCCLm and OC (11.4% vs 20%, p = .112).
• PCCLm had significantly shorter anesthesia times than OC when no concurrent procedures were performed (97.5 vs 120 min, p < .001).
• Surgical site infection/inflammation (SSII) rates were low and not significantly different between groups (4.5% PCCLm vs 1.8% OC).
• Dogs undergoing PCCLm were more frequently discharged same-day (84.7% vs 0% in OC), reflecting faster recovery.
• PCCLm had higher intraoperative complication rates (22.1% vs 3.4%), mostly due to incision extension or conversions.
• Time to additional surgery for urolith recurrence was longer in PCCLm dogs (24 vs 11.5 months, p = .004).
• Calcium oxalate uroliths were more prevalent in PCCLm cases, while OC had more struvite or mixed types.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• IMN provides relative stability, resists bending/torsion due to central axis alignment
• Larger diameter nails = exponentially greater stiffness (∝ D⁴)
• Trade-off: Larger interlocking holes weaken fatigue strength of the nail
• Reaming increases contact/stability but has pros/cons:
  • Improves outcomes in closed fractures
  • May reduce endosteal blood flow in thin-walled bones (e.g., cats)
• Design advances:
  • Angle-stable IMN reduce rotational slack
  • Expandable nails simplify insertion but may compromise removal or compressive load resistance
  • Precontoured nails match bone curvature but lack consistent clinical superiority
• Material debates continue (e.g., titanium vs. stainless steel vs. magnesium)

🔍 Key Findings

Study size: 105 dogs (73 ORPS; 32 MIPO)

MIPO vs ORPS differences:

• Surgical time: MIPO median 130 min vs ORPS 85 min (p < .001)
• Explant rate: MIPO 25% vs ORPS 4.1% (p = .003)
• Time to clinical union: MIPO 85 days vs ORPS 57 days (p = .010)
• Frontal alignment deviation: MIPO 3.5° vs ORPS 2.0° (p = .047)
• Comminution more frequent in MIPO (41% vs 16%; p = .012)

Significant predictors for MIPO use: More proximal fracture margin (p = .004), surgeon identity (p < .001)

No significant difference: Sagittal alignment, radial length, union rate, or complication rate by surgeon

Implant preference: Fixin plates used in 84% of MIPO; locking plates more common in ORPS