EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY OF IMMOBILIZATION AND CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF ETORPHINE-MEDETOMIDINE-AZAPERONE COMBINATION IN PLAINS ZEBRAS (EQUUS QUAGGA): A PILOT STUDY.

Five free-ranging male (subadults, n = 3; adults, n = 2) plains zebras (Equus quagga) were immobilized using a combination of etorphine (0.017 mg/kg), medetomidine (0.017 mg/kg), and azaperone (0.24 mg/kg) by means of a blank cartridge-fired projector. Time to recumbency was recorded and a descriptive score used to assess the quality of immobilization, manipulation, maintenance, and recovery. Physiological parameters were recorded at 5-min intervals for 20 min. At the end of the procedure, naltrexone (0.23 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly and time to standing documented. The combination evaluated in this study allowed for successful immobilization and safe recovery of all animals, including during the subsequent 15 days. Despite the good outcome in this pilot study, as a result of the periodic apneic events and hypercapnia documented in the zebras, the authors suggest that physiological parameters be thoroughly monitored when using this protocol. Further studies are needed to improve upon chemical immobilization protocols in free-ranging plains zebras.

Stability of the offset V osteotomy: effects of fixation, orientation, and surgical translocation in polyurethane foam models and preserved cadaveric specimens.

Polyurethane foam models and cadaver specimens were used to examine the stability of the offset V first metatarsal osteotomy. Uniform osteotomies were performed in all specimens by using a specially designed jig. Specimens in the polyurethane foam model series (n = 10) varied with respect to fixation type, fixation orientation, and degree of lateral translocation of the osteotomy. All specimens were loaded to failure in an Instron testing machine (Instron, Canton, MA). The plantar wing-pin (Kirschner wire) osteotomy group showed statistically significantly greater stiffness (P =.0119) and load at failure (P =.0027) than the dorsal wing-pin group. Cadaveric offset V specimens received the same amount of capital fragment lateral translocation but had different fixation types and orientations. Using the identical protocol as the models, the cadaveric dorsal wing-screw group showed statistically significantly less displacement at failure than the plantar wing-screw, plantar wing-pin, and dorsal wing-pin groups (P =.0262). The dorsal wing-pin group with a synthetic tension band showed a statistically significant greater stiffness (P =.0054) and peak load at failure (P =.0004) compared with the dorsal wing-pin group without the tension band. The most stable offset V construct in the polyurethane foam model was the plantar wing-pin group. The preserved cadaveric specimens yielded different results. The cadaveric dorsal wing-pin group with the synthetic tension band showed superior stability compared with all other non-tension-band groups. These results indicate the importance of tension band effects provided by capsular and ligamentous structures, which are typically ignored in surgical optimization research.

Recognition of the flexor digitorum accessorius longus.

The flexor digitorum accessorius longus muscle was observed during a cadaveric surgery course on the foot and ankle for third-year podiatric medical students. The cadaveric foot had been amputated just proximal to the ankle level so that the muscle origin could not be determined; its insertion, however, was found to be into the flexor digitorum longus tendon, just before the tendon split into its digital slips. This article reviews the literature on the muscle and its clinical implications and describes and shows the muscle as it was seen in this case.

Stability of the offset V-osteotomy. Test jig development and saw bone model assessment.

In the offset V-bunionectomy used for hallux valgus repair, both the Kalish and the Vogler variations have a long dorsal arm, but the apex is more distal in the Kalish procedure. This study investigated the effect that pin orientation and location of the osteotomy apex have on weightbearing stability. The authors studied saw bone models that were loaded to failure in an Instron 4201 materials testing machine and, in addition, designed, fabricated, and used a unique jig assembly to help minimize data variability. Statistically significant differences were found between the surgical techniques and pin orientations: the Kalish osteotomy was stronger than the Vogler procedure, and in both osteotomies, the plantarly directed Kirschner wire orientation was stronger than the dorsally directed orientation.