Ulnar ostectomy decreases the stability of canine cadaver carpi as assessed with stress radiography.

Distal ulnar ostectomy may be performed palliatively in patients with distal ulnar osteosarcoma. Concurrent arthrodesis of the carpus has been proposed to counteract joint instability following transection of carpal ligaments associated with removal of the distal ulna. The objective of this prospective one group pretest, posttest study was to assess stability of the carpus following distal ulnar ostectomy using pre- and postoperative stress radiographic views in a group of canine cadaver limbs. Seven thoracic limbs from six canine cadavers weighing more than 20 kg were obtained. Lateral and dorsopalmar, extended lateral, medial stress, and lateral stress radiographs were made before and after distal ulnar ostectomy. Presurgical canine cadaver carpal angle measurements were as follows (mean ± standard deviation): extension 205.9° ± 5.4; medial stress 25.1° ± 5.7; and lateral stress 13.3° ± 5.2°. Cadaver limb joint angles exceeded those previously reported in live dogs. A significant increase in carpal angle was noted following ulnar ostectomy. The mean increases in carpal angle were as follows: (mean ± standard deviation (95% confidence interval)): extension 6.2° ± 4.9 (2.6-9.8) (P = 0.007); medial stress 3.2° ± 3.0 (1.0-5.5) (P = 0.015); lateral stress 6.2° ± 5.2 (2.4-10.1) (P = 0.010). Findings from this cadaver study support the use of supplementary stabilization for clinical patients undergoing distal ulnar ostectomy. Future studies are needed in clinical patients to evaluate changes in limb positioning and gait associated with distal ulnar ostectomy.

Effect of distal ulnar ostectomy on carpal joint stability during weight bearing in the dog.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of a 50% distal ulnectomy on mediolateral carpal stability in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: Canine cadaveric study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Seven canine thoracic limbs METHODS: Thoracic limbs were placed in a jig to mimic weight bearing with a load representing 30% of body weight. Carpal extension angle was standardized at 190° ± 5°. Frontal plane carpal angles were measured with the limb loaded on craniocaudal radiographs before and after ulnectomy. Valgus and varus stress radiographs with the limb loaded were acquired before and after ulnectomy. The limbs were palpated and were subjectively graded for valgus or varus instability by 2 investigators before and after ulnectomy. RESULTS: Mean (±SD) valgus angulation increased after ulnectomy (2.1° ± 1.7°; P = .017; CI95 = 0.5°-3.7°) when the limb was loaded without valgus or varus stress applied. Mean valgus angulation increased after ulnectomy (2.7° ± 2.8°; P = .032; CI95 = -0.2°-5.5°) when valgus stress was applied to the loaded limb. Varus angulation was unchanged after ulnectomy (0.6° ± 4.6°; P = .383; CI95 = -4.2°-5.3°) when varus stress was applied to the loaded limb. Palpation detected increased valgus score after ulnectomy. CONCLUSION: Distal ulnectomy with excision of the lateral styloid process induces a slight increase in valgus in canine cadaver carpi. The clinical consequences of that valgus on carpal function and health should be assessed in clinical patients.

Interobserver agreement and diagnostic accuracy of brain magnetic resonance imaging in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate interobserver agreement and diagnostic accuracy of brain MRI in dogs. DESIGN: Evaluation study. ANIMALS: 44 dogs. PROCEDURES: 5 board-certified veterinary radiologists with variable MRI experience interpreted transverse T2-weighted (T2w), T2w fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and T1-weighted-FLAIR; transverse, sagittal, and dorsal T2w; and T1-weighted-FLAIR postcontrast brain sequences (1.5 T). Several imaging parameters were scored, including the following: lesion (present or absent), lesion characteristics (axial localization, mass effect, edema, hemorrhage, and cavitation), contrast enhancement characteristics, and most likely diagnosis (normal, neoplastic, inflammatory, vascular, metabolic or toxic, or other). Magnetic resonance imaging diagnoses were determined initially without patient information and then repeated, providing history and signalment. For all cases and readers, MRI diagnoses were compared with final diagnoses established with results from histologic examination (when available) or with other pertinent clinical data (CSF analysis, clinical response to treatment, or MRI follow-up). Magnetic resonance scores were compared between examiners with κ statistics. RESULTS: Reading agreement was substantial to almost perfect (0.64 < κ < 0.86) when identifying a brain lesion on MRI; fair to moderate (0.14 < κ < 0.60) when interpreting hemorrhage, edema, and pattern of contrast enhancement; fair to substantial (0.22 < κ < 0.74) for dural tail sign and categorization of margins of enhancement; and moderate to substantial (0.40 < κ < 0.78) for axial localization, presence of mass effect, cavitation, intensity, and distribution of enhancement. Interobserver agreement was moderate to substantial for categories of diagnosis (0.56 < κ < 0.69), and agreement with the final diagnosis was substantial regardless of whether patient information was (0.65 < κ < 0.76) or was not (0.65 < κ < 0.68) provided. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study found that whereas some MRI features such as edema and hemorrhage were interpreted less consistently, radiologists were reasonably constant and accurate when providing diagnoses.

Ultrasonographic observation of secretin-induced pancreatic duct dilation in healthy cats.

Secretin is a polypeptide hormone that stimulates secretion of bicarbonate from the exocrine pancreas and, in healthy human subjects, causes transient pancreatic duct dilation observable sonographically. In humans with chronic pancreatitis, secretin administration fails to cause pancreatic duct dilation, theoretically due to the restrictive effects of periductal fibrosis. We characterized the effect of exogenous secretin administration on the width of the pancreatic duct in nine healthy domestic cats. Cats were given a commercially available secretin product (ChiRho Stim) while the pancreatic duct was monitored sonographically. Mean pancreatic duct diameter increased from 0.77 +/- 0.33 to 1.42 +/- 0.40 mm after secretin administration (P = 0.0017). The mean percent increase in pancreatic duct diameter over basal diameter for all time points up to 15 min postsecretin administration was 101.9 +/- 58.8%. Applicability of this technique to diagnose chronic pancreatitis in cats will need to be investigated.

Myelography vs. computed tomography in the evaluation of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs.

Myelography and/or computed tomography (CT) are commonly used to evaluate acute intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of myelography and two different CT protocols in determining level and lateralization of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in comparison with surgical findings, investigate interobserver variability, and determine examination duration times. Results of conventional CT, helical CT, and myelography were compared with surgical findings in 19 chondrodystrophic dogs with acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion. Agreement among investigators was determined for different imaging modalities, and examination times were recorded. In the diagnosis of level of disk extrusion there was agreement of myelography, conventional CT, and helical CT with surgical findings in 94.7%, 100%, and 94.7% of dogs, respectively (P = 0.144). In the diagnosis of level and lateralization of disk extrusion there was agreement of myelography, conventional CT, and helical CT with surgical findings in 78.9%, 87.4%, and 85.3% of dogs, respectively (P = 0.328). Interobserver agreement was very good for all imaging modalities (myelography K = 0.87; conventional CT K = 0.86; helical CT K = 0.95). There were significant differences in median examination duration times between helical CT (4 min), conventional CT (8 min), and myelography (32 min) (P < 0.001). Both helical and conventional CT appear to be accurate for evaluation of acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion in chondrodystrophic dogs and are faster to perform than myelography.