Medial versus lateral transcondylar screw placement for canine humeral intracondylar fissures: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of screw direction on complications following transcondylar screw placement for the treatment of canine humeral intracondylar fissures (HIFs). STUDY DESIGN: Equivalence, parallel group, randomized clinical trial. SAMPLE POPULATION: Fifty-two client owned dogs (73 elbows). METHODS: Transcondylar screw placement was randomized to either a medial or lateral approach. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were 37 cases in the lateral approach group and 36 cases in the medial approach group. There was a significantly greater proportion of postoperative complications following placement of transcondylar screws from a lateral to medial direction (p = .001). There were seven cases with complications (19%) in the medial approach group versus 23 cases with complications (62%) in the lateral approach group. The majority of complications were seromas (n = 13) and surgical site infections (n = 16) with 4 complications requiring further surgery. Implant area moment of inertia (AMI), normalized to bodyweight, was lower in dogs with a major complication (p = .037). CONCLUSION: Transcondylar screws placed from lateral to medial for canine HIFs had a greater proportion of postoperative complications in this randomized clinical trial design. Implants with a lower AMI, relative to bodyweight, were more likely to lead to major complications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: We recommend placing transcondylar screws from medial to lateral for canine HIFs to reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Relatively small diameter implants had an increased risk of major complications.

Isolated Articular Fractures of the Canine Talus: Diagnosis and Signalment in Fourteen Dogs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective multicentre case series was to describe signalment, presenting signs and imaging findings in dogs with isolated articular fractures of the talus. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records (2008-2019) of dogs with isolated articular talar fractures were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen dogs met the inclusion criteria; affected breeds were four German Pointer (three shorthair and one wirehaired), three Labrador Retrievers, two Rottweilers, two Springer Spaniels, one cross breed, one Greyhound and one Great Münsterländer. The age range was 1 to 8 years with a median of 4.7 years. Lameness was usually acute in onset and had been present for a range of 4 to 540 days prior to referral.The most common fracture configuration involved the lateral trochlear ridge only (n = 9). Two of the fourteen fractures affected both trochlear ridges. Thirteen dogs were initially assessed radiographically with classic orthogonal views, but a fracture was only visible in five cases. The remainder were confirmed with further radiographic projections (n = 4) or computed tomography (n = 5). In one case, the lameness was located to the tarsus by scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: Isolated articular fracture of the talus is rare and may prove a diagnostic challenge due to the varied presentations and complex anatomy of the bone. Pathology of the talus may be suspected in any case of lameness localized to the tarsus and oblique/skyline radiographic views or advanced imaging should be performed if standard radiographic views are unremarkable.

Rectal duplication in an adult cat: a novel transanal surgical approach.

CASE SUMMARY: A 3-year and 8-month-old male entire European domestic shorthair cat was presented with a history of recurrent rectal prolapse, straining and pain when defaecating. Previous non-surgical and surgical treatments had not provided a satisfactory result. Rectal prolapse had recurred within 2 weeks of treatment. Upon clinical examination, an intraluminal mass could be palpated rectally. A CT scan examination revealed the mass was of a cystic nature and the cyst was surgically excised via a transanal approach. On histological evaluation, the cyst walls consisted of three of the layers of normal rectum: mucosa, muscularis of the mucosa and submucosa. These findings led to the definite diagnosis of rectal duplication. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: Enteric duplication is among the differential diagnoses for straining and rectal prolapse in cats. This condition has previously been discussed in the veterinary literature, with a single case report describing a rectal duplication in a cat. In that particular case, the authors described a perineal surgical approach. Here we present a novel approach whereby the duplicated material was excised transanally in order to limit intra- and postoperative morbidity. The clinical outcome was excellent in our case, with complete resolution of clinical signs and no recurrence 18 months after surgery.