Veterinary Surgery 

About: Veterinary Surgery is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Fracture fixation. It has an ISSN identifier of 0161-3499. Over the lifetime, 4357 publications have been published receiving 97670 citations. The journal is also known as: VS.

Arthroscopic subchondral bone plate microfracture technique augments healing of large chondral defects in the radial carpal bone and medial femoral condyle of horses.

Abstract: Objective— To evaluate the effect of arthroscopic subchondral bone microfracture on healing of large chondral defects in horses. Study Design— Short- (4 months) and long-term (12 months) in vivo experimental chondral defect model. Animals— 10 horses, aged 2 to 5 years. Methods— Each horse had a 1 cm2 full-thickness chondral defect created in both radial carpal bones and both medial femoral condyles. One carpus and one femoral condyle of each horse had the subchondral bone plate under the defect perforated using an orthopedic awl. All horses were exercised, five horses were evaluated after 4 months and five horses after 12 months. Gross, histologic, and histomorphometric examination of defect sites and repair tissues was performed, as was collagen typing of the repair tissue. Results— On gross observation a greater volume of repair tissue filled treated defects (74%) compared with control defects (45%). Histomorphometry confirmed more repair tissue filling treated defects, but no difference in the relative amounts of different tissue types was observed. There was an increased percentage of type II collagen in treated defects compared with control defects and evidence of earlier bone remodeling as documented by changes in porosity. Conclusions— In full-thickness chondral defects in exercised horses, treatment with subchondral bone microfracture increased the tissue volume in the defects and the percentage of type II collagen in the tissue filling the defects when compared to nontreated defects. Clinical Relevance— No negative effects of the microfracture technique were observed and some of the beneficial effects are the basis for recommending its use in patients cases with exposed subchondral bone.

Hemodynamic effects of medetomidine in the dog: a dose titration study.

Abstract: Objective To characterize the hemodynamic effects of medetomidine administered intravenously at doses ranging from 1 to 20 microg/kg, and to determine whether these effects are dose dependent. Study design Prospective randomized multidose trial. Animals Twenty-five clinically normal male beagles (5 groups of 5), aged 1 to 4 years and weighing 13.5 +/- 1.7 kg. Methods Medetomidine, at a dose of 1, 2, 5, 10, or 20 microg/kg, was administered intravenously at time 0. Heart rate, arterial pressure, central venous pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, body temperature, cardiac output, and packed cell volume were measured immediately before and at selected times after medetomidine administration (3, 7, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes in all groups, at 90 minutes for the 10 and 20 microg/kg groups, and at 120 minutes for the highest dose). Cardiac index, stroke index, rate-pressure product, systemic vascular resistance index, pulmonary vascular resistance index, and left and right ventricular stroke work indices were calculated. The degree of sedation was subjectively scored by an observer who was blinded to the treatment used. Results Heart rate, rate-pressure product, cardiac index, and left and right ventricular stroke work indices decreased below baseline values. Central venous pressure and systemic vascular resistance index increased above baseline measurements. Except in the 2 microg/kg group, after an initial and short lasting increase, a prolonged decrease in arterial pressure was observed. Conclusions Hemodynamic changes were observed with the intravenous (IV) administration of medetomidine, at any dose. However, the two lowest doses (1 and 2 microg/kg) produced less cardiovascular depression. Clinical relevance Medetomidine is an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist widely used in dogs, producing sedation, analgesia and cardiovascular depression. When using IV medetomidine, a reduction of the recommended dosage (ie, +/-30 to 40 microg/kg) by up to 6 times did not significantly influence the cardiovascular effects.

Effect of Tibial Plateau Leveling on Cranial and Caudal Tibial Thrusts in Canine Cranial Cruciate–Deficient Stifles: An In Vitro Experimental Study

Abstract: Objectives— To investigate the effect of tibial plateau leveling (TPL) on tibial subluxation and tibial axial rotation; to determine the minimal tibial plateau rotation (MinTPR) angle that provides stifle stability; and to evaluate caudal cruciate ligament (CaCL) strain following tibial plateau rotation in cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)-deficient stifles. Animals— Fifteen canine cadaver hind limbs. Methods— Tibial subluxation was measured from lateral radiographs in intact, loaded stifles and after sequential CrCL transection, MinTPR, TPL, and CaCL transection. The MinTPR angle was determined using a custom-made hinge plate and compared with the TPL angle. Tibial axial rotation was evaluated in CrCL-deficient stifles before and after TPL. Finally, CaCL strain was recorded in intact, loaded stifles, and following MinTPR, TPL, and tibial plateau over-rotation (MaxTPR) using a force probe. Results— Cranial tibial subluxation in CrCL-deficient stifles was eliminated with TPL. Tibial plateau rotation, however, induced caudal tibial subluxation, which significantly increased from MinTPR to TPL before and after CaCL transection. The MinTPR angle was 6.5°± 0.9° less than the TPL angle (P < .05). Tibial internal rotation decreased significantly after TPL in CrCL-deficient stifles. Finally, CaCL strain increased with increasing tibial plateau rotation. Conclusions— This study suggests that, during stance phase, TPL transforms cranial tibial thrust into caudal tibial thrust, thereby stabilizing the stifle in the cranio-caudal plane via the constraint of the CaCL. The increase in CaCL stress, which results from tibial plateau rotation, could predispose the CaCL to fatigue failure and therefore would caution against tibial plateau over-rotation.

Evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic criteria for sepsis in dogs

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the ability of various individual criteria and grouped criteria to diagnose sepsis in dogs. Study design Prospective acquisition of clinical data. Animals or sample population Client-owned dogs; 30 septic and 320 nonseptic. Methods Rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, white blood cell (WBC) count with percent bands, platelet count, and serum glucose concentration were obtained on day 0. True sepsis was determined on days 0 to 3 according to the following criteria: (1) histological, microbiological, and/or gross confirmation of infection, and (2) systemic illness caused by infection. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test and multiple logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results The mean temperature, heart rate, WBC count, and percent bands were greater, whereas the mean platelet count was less in septic compared with nonseptic dogs. There was no difference in respiratory rate or glucose concentration. WBC/bands were the best individual criterion for the diagnosis of sepsis (sensitivity 87%; specificity 69%). The sensitivity and specificity of the grouped criteria (> or = two of four; temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, WBC) varied according to ranges of normal used. Multiple logistic regression resulted in little improvement in the sensitivity/specificity of these diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of sepsis. Conclusions These criteria are useful for the diagnosis of sepsis when limits are used that result in a high sensitivity (e.g., 97%). The high sensitivity was associated with a low false-negative and a high false-positive rate; sepsis was overdiagnosed with these grouped criteria. Clinical relevance These criteria may be used for a sensitive, but nonspecific, diagnosis of sepsis in dogs.

Proposed definitions and criteria for reporting time frame, outcome, and complications for clinical orthopedic studies in veterinary medicine.

Abstract: Outcome, and Complications For Clinical Orthopedic Studies in Veterinary Medicine James L. Cook, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Richard Evans, PhD, Michael G. Conzemius, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, B. Duncan X. Lascelles, BVSc, PhD, Diplomate ECVS, Diplomate ACVS, C. Wayne McIlwraith, BVSc, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Antonio Pozzi, DMV, MS, Diplomate ACVS, Peter Clegg, MA, VetMB, PhD, Diplomate ECVS, MRCVS, John Innes, BVSc, PhD, DSAS (Orth), MRCVS, Kurt Schulz, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, John Houlton, MA, VetMB, DVR, DSAO, MRCVS, Diplomate ECVS, Lisa Fortier, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Alan R. Cross, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, Kei Hayashi, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Amy Kapatkin, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, Dorothy Cimino Brown, DVM, MSCE, Diplomate ACVS, and Allison Stewart, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, North Carolina State University,