Triple Pelvic Osteotomy Fixed with Lag Screw for the Treatment of Pelvic Canal Stenosis in Five Cats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the technique and the clinical outcome of cats with obstipation as a result of pelvic canal narrowing, treated using an alternative triple pelvic osteotomy technique. METHODS: Five cats with obstipation as a result of pelvic canal narrowing due to pelvic fracture malunion or secondary hyperparathyroidism were treated by triple pelvic osteotomy. After performing the iliac osteotomy and medial partial cortical debridement (4/5 cases), the pelvic canal was widened by moving the caudal fragment of the ilium to the lateral aspect of the cranial fragment. The iliac fragments were fixed by a 2.7-mm lag screw (5/5 cases) and an additional 2 Kirschner wires 0.8 mm (1/5 cases). RESULTS: The radiographic examination immediately postoperatively and 8 weeks postoperatively showed a mean pelvic canal enlargement of 20% (range 7-38%). Minor complication occurred in one case; this resolved 15 days postoperatively without any treatment. Complications and recurrence of obstipation did not occur during the final follow-up, ranging between 5 months and 1 year in any of these cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of lag screw fixed triple pelvic osteotomy resulted in widening of the pelvic canal and led to a satisfactory outcome with no major complications. This technique is fast, requires no expensive implants and it is relatively straightforward. Further cases are required to determine the success and complication risk of the procedure.

A Prospective Evaluation of a Modified Belt-Loop Gastropexy in 100 Dogs with Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus.

Gastropexy is a surgical technique performed to prevent and decrease the recurrence rate of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). The objective of this prospective, a descriptive cohort study on 100 client-owned dogs who were presented with GDV, is to describe a modified belt-loop gastropexy and determine its intraoperative complications and long-term efficacy. The transversus abdominis muscle was used to make an oblique belt-loop. A seromuscular antral fold, instead of a seromuscular antral flap, was passed through the belt-loop, and then, the passed portion of the antral fold was sutured to the dissected edge of the abdominal wall. Intraoperative complications related to gastropexy were recorded, and the incidence of GDV recurrence was determined a minimum of 1 yr postoperatively via telephone with the referring veterinarians and the owners. There were no intraoperative complications related to the modified belt-loop gastropexy technique. Based on follow-up conversations, none of the dogs presented signs of GDV recurrence during the follow-up period. Based on the results, there is strong clinical evidence that a modified belt-loop gastropexy prevents recurrence of GDV in dogs surviving an acute episode.

Circular external skeletal fixation stabilization of antebrachial and crural fractures in 25 dogs.

Fracture stabilization using circular external skeletal fixation was evaluated in 14 dogs with antebrachial fractures and 11 dogs with crural fractures. Most dogs were consistently weight bearing on the stabilized limb by 3 days following surgery. Although all dogs developed minor wire/pin tract inflammation and eight dogs developed major wire/pin tract inflammation, postoperative lameness was not consistently associated with wire/pin tract complications. Fractures in 23 dogs achieved radiographic union (mean +/- standard deviation [SD], 61 +/- 21 days; median, 57 days) without additional surgery; two dogs required restabilization of their fractures with linear fixators. Twenty of the 21 owners that could be contacted felt their dog had no (n=15) or only a mild (n=5) intermittent lameness at the time of final, long-term (mean +/- SD, 37 +/- 17 months; median, 42 months) assessment.