🔍 Key Findings

• CBPI, COI, and LOAD are recommended for assessing canine osteoarthritis based on COSMIN criteria.
• COI scored highest in development rigor and evidence quality among evaluated OROMs.
• Internal consistency, reliability, and responsiveness were commonly validated, though no OROMs reported measurement error.
• LOAD was considered formative, and internal consistency assessment was deemed unnecessary.
• CBPI and COI showed sufficient internal consistency, but CBPI’s factor structure was inconsistent across studies.
• All 6 evaluated OROMs (CBPI, COI, LOAD, BHSII, HCPI, HVAS) were quick to complete (under 5 min).
• Three tools—BHSII, HCPI, HVAS—need more evidence before recommendation; only CBPI, COI, and LOAD are Category A (recommended).
• Future studies should assess interpretability, including measurement error and clinically meaningful change scores (MIC, SDC).

🔍 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

• Modified subdural shunt (SDS) placement was adapted from prior techniques using a hemilaminectomy approach and no suturing of the dura or shunt.
• Dogs receiving SDS had significantly better long-term outcomes (85.7% improved) compared to those with durotomy alone (41.7%).
• Recurrence rate was lower in the SDS group (14.3%) than control (41.7%), though not statistically significant.
• Most recurrences occurred in Pugs (5/7), suggesting a breed predisposition.
• Shunt size was limited to 25% of spinal cord diameter, typically 3–3.5 Fr.
• CSF flow through the shunt was confirmed intraoperatively, supporting the role of SDS in maintaining flow and possibly preventing recurrence.
• Immediate postoperative outcomes were not different between groups (≈42% deteriorated), but long-term recovery was better with SDS.
• Steroid use pre-surgery did not correlate with improved outcome; fewer SDS dogs received steroids pre-op.

🔍 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

Increased risk with gonadectomy:

• Pooled OR for CrCLD:
  • Females: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)
  • Males: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.67–2.69)

Early gonadectomy (≤1 year) further increased risk:

• OR vs >1 year:
  • Females: 3.39
  • Males: 3.13

Late gonadectomy (>1 year) had no significant difference vs intact dogs.

Breed-specific findings:

• Female Labradors: No increased CrCLD risk from gonadectomy (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.54–2.64)
• Male Labradors: Increased risk persisted (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.53–2.98)

Study type: Systematic review + meta-analysis of 24 observational studies (n = 1.85 million dogs)

🔍 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.

🔍 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

• 67.9% of respondents reported using SSCs, with most indicating frequent use (64% used in every surgery).
• 78.7% agreed SSCs reduce complications, and 89.6% believed SSCs improve communication.
• Respondents not using SSCs were more likely to view them as a waste of time (p < .001).
• Forgetfulness (39.6%) and time constraints (36.5%) were leading reasons for checklist noncompletion.
• Only 23.3% had SSC training during surgical residency, with newer diplomates more likely to have had exposure (p < .001).
• Key strategies to improve uptake included: staff feedback modifications (67.9%), formal designation of initiator (48.6%), and training (52.2%).
• Surgeons and OR staff were most commonly identified as noncompliant team members.
• SSC use was more frequent in small animal practices, and mandating SSCs by management was favored but not always effective alone.

🔍 Key Findings

• 39 of 40 checklist items for simulated OVH surgical assessment had good content validity (CVI = 0.81)
• Only 1 of 6 items from the OSATS GRS (respect for tissue) met inclusion criteria (CVI = 0.80)
• Checklist showed strong reliability (G-coefficient = 0.85) for moderate-stakes exams
• Modified OSATS GRS showed acceptable reliability (G-coefficient = 0.79)
• Two raters needed for acceptable reliability in high-stakes exams when using the checklist
• Minimal interrater bias found; variance largely due to interaction among student, rater, and item
• Digital recordings were a reliable method of evaluating surgical performance
• Study supports using checklist over OSATS GRS for assessing preclinical students on simulated models

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Normative ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI T2* values were established for:
  • Patellar ligament (PL): T2*L = 4.65 ms
  • Cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL): T2*L = 5.99 ms
  • Caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL): T2*L = 7.06 ms
• Statistically significant differences in T2*L values were found between:
  • PL vs. CrCL (p = 0.03)
  • PL vs. CdCL (p = 0.0097)
  • CrCL vs. CdCL (p = 0.03)
• No significant differences in short T2* (T2*S) values across ligaments.
• Study highlights potential of UTE MRI to detect early ligament changes even without physical instability.
• May guide early diagnosis in partial CrCL rupture where standard MRI is limited.