Retention of surgery specialists in academia: a critical agenda.

Recruitment and retention of specialists to academia appears to be a growing problem in university teaching hospitals. Members of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) believe that the movement of surgery specialists to practice may have an impact on the training of veterinary students and surgery residents. To address these concerns, 1,071 ACVS diplomates and 60 department heads and hospital directors from all veterinary schools in North America were surveyed to determine whether a problem exists, the extent of the problem, and potential reasons for migration of specialists to practice. Responses were obtained from 620 ACVS diplomates (58 per cent) and 38 department heads and hospital directors (63%) from 28 different universities. The responses confirmed a net movement of surgery specialists from academia to practice. Eighty seven percent of department heads and hospital directors believed there was a shortage of small animal surgery specialists in academia; this information was supported by the fact that 47% responded that they had open positions and 68% had difficulty filling positions in the last five years. The demand was slightly less for large animal surgery specialists, and 42 per cent of respondents indicated that they had open positions. Financial considerations were the most common reason for surgery specialists to move from academia to private practice. Seventy-six percent of responding ACVS diplomates in private practice had a total compensation package valued at greater than $125,000 per year, whereas 77.8% of diplomates in academia had total compensation valued at $125,000 or less. Most universities offer starting salaries (not including benefits) for recently certified surgery specialists ranging from $70,000 to $90,000. Reasons for moving from academia to practice besides financial considerations included undesirable location of university hospitals; lack of interest in research; and a belief that university administration was not supportive of surgery specialists. Many academic surgery specialists were frustrated by the requirement for productivity in research, teaching, and service for promotion in tenure-track positions.

Vertical position of the patella in the stifle joint of clinically normal large-breed dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To define the vertical position of the patella in clinically normal large-breed dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cadavers of 13 clinically normal large-breed dog. PROCEDURE: Both hind limbs were harvested with intact stifle joints and mounted on a positioning device that allowed full range of motion of the stifle joint. Lateral radiographic views were obtained with the stifle joints positioned at each of 5 angles (148 degrees, 130 degrees, 113 degrees, 96 degrees, and 75 degrees). Vertical position of the patella through a range of motion was depicted on a graph of mean stifle angle versus corresponding mean proximal patellar position (PPP) and distal patellar position (DPP) relative to the femoral trochlea for each dog. Ratio of length of the patellar ligament to length of the patella (L:P) was determined for each dog. Overall mean, SD, and 95% confidence intervals for L:P were calculated for all dogs. RESULTS: Evaluation of vertical position of the patella through a range of motion revealed a nearly linear relationship between joint angle and PPP and joint angle and DPPF Evaluation of L:P results did not reveal significant differences between limbs (left or right) or among joint angles. Overall mean +/- SD L:P for all dogs was 1.68 +/- 0.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 2.03). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The L:P proved to be a repeatable measurement of vertical patellar position, which is independent of stifle angles from 75 degrees to 148 degrees. This measurement could be used as a quantitative method for diagnosing patella alta and patella baja in large-breed dogs.

Evaluation of plasma diazepam and nordiazepam concentrations following administration of diazepam intravenously or via suppository per rectum in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of diazepam administered per rectum via compounded (ie, not commercially available) suppositories and determine whether a dose of 2 mg/kg in this formulation would result in plasma concentrations shown to be effective for control of status epilepticus or cluster seizures (ie, 150 to 300 ng/mL) in dogs within a clinically useful interval (10 to 15 minutes). ANIMALS: 6 healthy mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 3 dogs each in a crossover-design study. Diazepam (2 mg/kg) was administered IV or via suppository per rectum, and blood samples were collected at predetermined time points. Following a 6- or 7-day washout period, each group received the alternate treatment. Plasma concentrations of diazepam and nordiazepam were analyzed via reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of diazepam and nordiazepam exceeded the targeted range ≤ 3 minutes after IV administration in all dogs. After suppository administration, targeted concentrations of diazepam were not detected in any dogs, and targeted concentrations of nordiazepam were detected after 90 minutes (n = 2 dogs) or 120 minutes (3) or were not achieved (1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of these results, administration of 2 mg of diazepam/kg via the compounded suppositories used in the present study cannot be recommended for emergency treatment of seizures in dogs.

Comparison of tibial plateau angles in normal and cranial cruciate deficient stifles of Labrador retrievers.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate tibial plateau angles (TPA) in normal and cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) deficient stifles of Labrador retrievers. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Eighty-one client-owned purebred Labrador retrievers. METHODS: Lateral radiographs of the tibia were obtained from 2 groups of dogs. Group I (42 dogs) had CCL rupture diagnosed by arthrotomy or arthroscopy. Group II (39 dogs) had no history of orthopedic problems, no radiographic evidence of CCL rupture, and dogs were >8 years of age. The tibial axis and the tibial plateau were determined on the radiographs, and the TPA was measured using image measurement software. The TPA measurement results of groups I and II were compared. RESULTS: Group I (CCL rupture) had a mean TPA (+/-SD) of 23.5 (+/-3.1) degrees, and group II (normal) had a mean TPA (+/-SD) of 23.6 (+/-3.5) degrees. With a P value of.97, no statistical difference was detected between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: No correlation between the magnitude of TPA and CCL rupture was identified in this group of Labrador retrievers. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In Labrador retrievers, TPA should not be used as a predictor of CCL rupture.

Influence of limb positioning and measurement method on the magnitude of the tibial plateau angle.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of limb positioning and measurement technique on the magnitude of the radiographically determined tibial plateau angle (R-TPA). STUDY DESIGN: In vitro study, R-TPA was determined by 6 blinded observers and image measurement software. ANIMALS: Five canine cadaver hind limbs. METHODS: The legs were positioned on a custom-made positioning device simulating a radiographic tabletop technique in lateral recumbency. True lateral positioning was defined by superimposition of femoral and tibial condyles on the radiographic projection. Radiographs were taken while the specimens were relocated in a proximal, distal, caudal, and cranial direction with respect to the radiographic beam. For each specimen, 25 different radiographic views were obtained and 6 blinded observers determined the radiographic TPA using 2 different methods. The conventional method used precise anatomic landmarks to determine the tibial plateau. To simulate osteoarthritic changes complicating identification of these landmarks, the tangential method estimated the tibial plateau as the tangent to the central portion of the tibial plateau. After periarticular soft tissue dissection the anatomic tibial plateau angle (A-TPA) was determined. The A-TPA and the R-TPA were compared. RESULTS: The R-TPA significantly decreased as limb position with respect to the X-ray beam changed from cranial proximal to caudal distal. The maximal mean radiographic R-TPA difference was 3.6 degrees with the first and 5.7 degrees with the second method. Regardless of the method used there was no significant difference between A-TPA and R-TPA in the true lateral position. In the peripheral positions, however, significant differences between anatomic and radiographic TPA were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Limb positioning influenced the radiographic appearance of the tibial plateau and the magnitude of the measured TPA. Cranial and proximal positioning of the limb relative to the X-ray beam leads to overestimation whereas caudal and distal positioning leads to underestimation of the TPA. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: True lateral positioning of the tibia defined by superimposition of the femoral and tibial condyles should be used for accurate TPA determination before tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.