Novel approach to accessing the canine thorax using parasternal thoracotomy
Ana Weiland and others, Veterinary Specialty Services, Manchester, Missouri
Thoracotomy is a common surgical procedure used to access the soft tissue structures within the thorax. Various techniques have been used to circumvent the ribs and sternum, but these may cause significant trauma and result in a high post-operative complication rate. The authors investigated the effectiveness of an alternative approach to traditional median sternotomy, a parasternal thoracotomy via rib disarticulation at the sternocostal joint. The method was used in 93 dogs, 88 of which survived the procedure, while 83 patients survived to discharge. Their findings suggest that parasternal thoracotomy may be a viable alternative to median sternotomy that does not require specialist equipment for bilateral hemithoracic visualisation. Post-operative complications and short-term outcomes were similar to those seen using the traditional approach.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 262
Stabilisation of sacroiliac luxations in 67 cats using two sacroiliac screws
Kevin Schreiber and others, AniCura, Beaucouze, France
Sacroiliac luxation is a common injury in domestic cats following blunt trauma or falls. Different methods for stabilising the patient’s pelvis have been described but no consensus has emerged on the most appropriate choice. The authors report the radiographic and clinical outcomes achieved in 82 procedures carried out on 67 cats using two (lag and positional) sacroiliac screws. Clinical follow-up was available for 42 cats. Full function was achieved in 34 cats, or 81 percent of those procedures. Screw failure occurred in five procedures due to loosening (three cases) or breakage (two cases) of the positional screws. Overall, the functional and radiographic outcomes when stabilising sacroiliac luxation using this two-screw technique were considered to be excellent.
Veterinary Surgery, 53, 1366-1376
Lateral total elbow replacement technique for use in dogs with osteoarthritis
Lindsey Woody and others, Veterinary Specialty Center, Seattle, Washington
Total elbow replacement techniques were developed in response to the unreliable results achieved with medical management or conventional surgical procedures in dogs with elbow osteoarthritis. The prostheses are usually implanted using a medial approach, but such methods have proved technically challenging and may result in iatrogenic nerve injury. The authors investigated the possibility of using a lateral approach to insert prostheses into the elbow in cadavers of large-breed dogs. Their findings show that in normal cadaveric elbows, a lateral approach to total elbow replacement is feasible and produces equivalent limb alignment, joint laxity and joint motion to the conventional medial technique.
American Journal of Veterinary Research, 85
Successful treatment of temporomandibular joint luxation in a rabbit
Athinodoros Athinodorou and others, University of Edinburgh
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) luxation has been reported in a range of species but only four cases have been previously described in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). In two of those patients, closed reduction techniques were successfully applied but the others were euthanised after the injury recurred. The authors report the successful surgical repair of a bilateral TMJ luxation following trauma. On presentation, the rabbit was unable to close its mouth but there was no evidence of crepitus. An open surgical reduction with bilateral coronoidectomy and condilectomy was conducted under general anaesthesia. The rabbit’s appearance and appetite were both normal when re-examined 33 months later.
Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 51, 27-31
Proximal tibial osteotomies in treating grade IV medial patellar luxation in cats
Gabriela Mariano da Silva and others, Federal University of Parana, Brazil
Medial patellar luxation is a common orthopaedic finding in dogs but is less regularly reported in cats and the condition could possibly be underdiagnosed in that species. The authors describe the findings in two cases of cats with grade IV medial patellar luxation which were treated using a similar technique to that used in dogs. Proximal total tibial osteotomy was combined with medial crescentic closing wedge osteotomy in one patient and with cranial closing wedge ostectomy in the other rabbit. Satisfactory post-operative results were obtained in both cases. No major complications were observed and both cats showed an early return to weight bearing on the affected limb.
Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 64, 100944
Intravenous administration of blood cell secretome in dogs with osteoarthritis
João Alves and others, Guarda Nacional Republicana, Lisbon, Portugal
Blood cell secretome is one of many novel treatments for canine osteoarthritis currently under investigation. It is a preparation made from the patient’s own blood cells and contains high concentrations of anti-inflammatory mediators, growth factors, etc, but no intact cells. The authors investigated the efficacy of this treatment when administered either as an intra-articular therapy or intravenously. Ten dogs with bilateral hip osteoarthritis received a single injection via each route in a crossover study. Improvements in pain and movement scores were detectable in both treatment groups for the first 60 days post treatment and these benefits persisted for up to 120 days in the dogs receiving the intra-articular injections.
Research in Veterinary Science, 180, 105422
Effect of one session of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in hip osteoarthritis
Gillian Leung and others, University of Liverpool
Studies in human patients have suggested that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy could be an effective method for alleviating pain, stiffness and functional impairment resulting from osteoarthritis. However, research in canine patients has produced inconsistent results and some studies have been criticised for having methodological flaws. The authors conducted a prospective randomised controlled double-blind study on the effect of a single session using the technology in dogs with hip osteoarthritis. They found an increase in stride length in treated dogs compared with placebo controls. However, there were no statistically significant differences between treated and control dogs in pain levels or temporospatial performance after a single application of the technique.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 66
Microplating system for the repair of metatarsal and metacarpal fractures
Danielle Marturello and Karen Perry, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Complications including iatrogenic bone fractures and interference with joint function may commonly result when using standard methods for repairing metabone fractures in dogs and cats. The authors assessed the clinical effectiveness and complications encountered when using a commercially available microplating system (VetKISS; IMEX Veterinary) to treat fractures in four cats and six dogs, each weighing less than 7kg. Their results demonstrated complete functional recovery and 100 percent clinical union rates in all patients, with acceptable complication rates. This method can be considered for metabone repair in low bodyweight feline and canine patients without the use of external coaptation.
