Short-term outcome after treatment of talocrural instability in cats using modified type II transarticular external skeletal fixation.

Transarticular external skeletal fixation (TESF) is repeatedly used for temporary stabilisation of tarsal joint in cats. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the use of temporary modified type II TESF for management of talocrural instability (TCI) in cats without joint arthrodesis and to rate short-term outcomes and complications. Medical records of all cats treated for TCI between January 2012 and December 2021 were reviewed. Information was collected including signalment, degree of lameness, type of TCI, accompanying soft tissue and bone injuries, and post-operative follow-up assessment including time of frame removal, complications, degree of lameness, range of joint motion and ankylosis. Surgical management didn't involve debridement of the articular cartilage. Eighty-five percent of cats had satisfactory joint stability at the time of frame removal. Eighteen cats exhibited minor complications, six cats had major complications, and 8 cats showed persistent lameness. All cats showed reduction of joint motion range by 20°-30° directly after frame removal while returned to normal in 79% of cats 4 weeks later. Variable degrees of joint ankylosis were reported. In conclusion, this study supports the use of temporary modified type II TESF for management of TCI in cats without joint involvement as an excellent alternative to tarsal arthrodesis.

A Novel Technique for Partial V-shaped Zygomatic Arch Ostectomy for Excision of Zygomatic Salivary Glands in Dogs.

The present study described a novel technique for a partial V-shaped ostectomy of the zygomatic arch (ZA) for surgical excision of the zygomatic salivary glands (ZSG) in dogs and addressed advantages and disadvantages related to this procedure. The study was conducted on 6 clinically healthy mongrel dogs. A 3-4 cm curvilinear transcutaneous incision was performed parallel to the dorsal margin of the ZA. An additional 2 cm vertical incision was performed perpendicular to the former one forming a T-shaped incision over the ZA. The skin, subcutaneous tissue, and periosteum over the ZA were dissected and reflected laterally. At 0.5 cm from the orbital ligament, a V-shaped segment from the ZA was resected using an electrical saw. The base of the V-shaped segment was 1.5 cm wide and its apex was 0.5 cm from the ventral margin of the ZA. A combination of sharp and blunt dissection was used to dissect and excise the ZSG from the surrounding tissues. The periosteal flaps were coaptated in a simple continuous pattern. The subcutaneous tissue and skin were closed as usual. The new approach was a feasible technique for the excision of the ZSGs without considerable postoperative complications in dogs. The novel V-shaped partial ostectomy of the ZA technique is reliable, satisfactory, and relatively less invasive for surgical excision of ZSGs in dogs. Further work should be conducted on clinical cases.

A retrospective study of surgical affections of mammary glands in cattle and buffaloes and their management in the field.

The present retrospective study was conducted from 2003 to 2015 in Egypt to document common surgical affections of the udder and teat in cattle and buffaloes, and determine medical and surgical treatment options that are feasible in a field setting. We diagnosed 19 different surgical affections and classified them into 4 groups according to their location. Teat orifice affections (12.41%) included imperforate teat, contracted teat orifice, enlarged teat orifice, and black spot. Teat cistern affections (23.76%) included teat fistula, dilated teat cistern, teat polypi, and webbed teat. Teat surface affections (50.35%) included sore teat, supernumerary teat, sloughed teat, teat papilloma and fibropapilloma, teat wounds, and teat viral lesions. Udder affections (13.48%) included hypermastia, udder wounds, and suppurative and gangrenous mastitis. In cattle, the number of surgical affections located on the teat surface (20 ± 5.4) was significantly higher compared with other locations as well as compared with buffaloes (P<0.05). No treatment was indicated in 24% of recorded cases. Medical and surgical treatment was indicated in 73.75% of affected animals. Favorable results were achieved with the recommended treatments when applied in the field.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of orthopedic interface repair using a tissue scaffold with a continuous hard tissue-soft tissue transition.

Tendon tears produce pain and decrease joint stability; each year, over 1.1 million rotator cuff tendon surgical procedures are performed worldwide. However, surgical success is highly variable, and the inability of the procedure to drive the regeneration of the normal tendon-bone interface has been identified as a key factor in surgical failure. This study focuses on the development, in vitro evaluation, and in vivo assessment of a tissue scaffold derived from bovine cancellous bone with the potential to direct regeneration of a bone-soft tissue interface. The scaffold is a highly porous scaffold with a continuous hard tissue-soft tissue transition that facilitates load transfer across the interface and contains all of the extracellular matrix components of the orthopedic interface. This study demonstrated the in vitro characterization of the mechanical properties and successful in vivo assessment using an ovine model.