Diagnostic and surgical treatment for traumatic bile peritonitis in dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe short-term outcomes of dogs and cats undergoing surgery for traumatic bile peritonitis. ANIMALS: 13 dogs and 4 cats. METHODS: Multi-institutional, retrospective study. Medical records from 6 institutions were reviewed for cases of traumatic bile peritonitis between 2006 and 2022. Clinical presentation, additional injuries, surgical treatment, and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: Trauma occurred a median of 2 (range, 1 to 22) and 4 (range, 1 to 22) days prior to presentation in dogs and cats, respectively. Total bilirubin was increased in 11 of 13 dogs and 2 of 4 cats. Rupture occurred at the common bile duct (CBD) in 10 dogs and 1 cat, gallbladder in 3 dogs, cystic duct in 2 cats, and hepatic duct in 1 dog and 1 cat. The most common surgeries were cholecystoduodenostomy and CBD repair in dogs and cholecystectomy in cats. Eleven of 13 dogs and all cats survived to hospital discharge (88.2% overall survival). Median follow-up in surviving dogs and cats was 35 days (range, 14 to 401) and 30 days (range, 14 to 90), respectively. One dog that underwent cholecystectomy experienced recurrent bile peritonitis 20 days postoperatively. Short-term survival following surgical treatment of traumatic bile peritonitis was excellent and recurrence appears uncommon. The most frequent site of rupture was the CBD in dogs and the cystic duct in cats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Measurement of peritoneal bilirubin should be considered in dogs and cats with peritoneal effusion following trauma. Surgeons should be prepared to identify and address ruptures in locations other than the gallbladder.

Accuracy of Patient-Specific 3D Printed Drill Guides in the Placement of a Canine Coxofemoral Toggle Pin through a Minimally Invasive Approach.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of patient-specific three-dimensional printed drill guides (3D-PDG) for the placement of a coxofemoral toggle via a minimally invasive approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-procedure computed tomography (CT) data of 19 canine cadaveric hips were used to design a cadaver-specific 3D-PDG that conformed to the proximal femur. Femoral and acetabular bone tunnels were drilled through the 3D-PDG, and a coxofemoral toggle pin was placed. The accuracy of tunnel placement was evaluated with post-procedure CT and gross dissection. RESULTS: Coxofemoral toggle pins were successfully placed in all dogs. Mean exit point translation at the fovea capitis was 2.5 mm (0.2-7.5) when comparing pre- and post-procedure CT scans. Gross dissection revealed the bone tunnel exited the fovea capitis inside (3/19), partially inside (12/19) and outside of (4/19) the ligament of the head of the femur. Placement of the bone tunnel through the acetabulum was inside (16/19), partially inside (1/19) and outside (2/19) of the acetabular fossa. Small 1 to 2 mm articular cartilage fragments were noted in 10 of 19 specimens. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Three-dimensional printed drill guide designed for coxofemoral toggle pin application is feasible. Errors are attributed to surgical execution and identification of the borders of the fovea capitis on CT data. Future studies should investigate modifications to 3D-PDG design and methods. Three-dimensional printed drill guide for coxofemoral toggle pin placement warrants consideration for use in select clinical cases of traumatic coxofemoral luxation.

Ex Vivo Biomechanical Comparison of Titanium Locking Plate, Stainless Steel Nonlocking Plate, and Tie-in External Fixator Applied by a Dorsal Approach on Ostectomized Humeri of Pigeons (Columba livia).

To compare the bending strength of a locking plate (LP), nonlocking plate (NLP), and an external skeletal fixator intramedullary pin (ESF-IM) tie-in fixation applied by a dorsal approach in an avian humerus fracture model, 5 left humeri obtained from pigeon (Columba livia) cadavers were randomly assigned to each repair technique (n = 15). The ESF-IM group was repaired with a 0.062-inch intramedullary pin tied-in with two 0.035-inch positive profile transfixation pins using acrylic filled plastic tubing. The LP group was repaired with a dorsally applied titanium 1.6-mm screw 7-hole locking plate (1 bicortical and 2 monocortical screws in each segment). The NLP group was repaired with a dorsally applied 6-hole stainless steel 1.5-mm dynamic compression plate (all bicortical screws). All constructs were applied before complete ostectomy to allow perfect reconstruction. Constructs were cyclically tested nondestructively for 1000 cycles in four-point bending before being tested to failure. Outcome measures included stiffness, strength, and strain energy. All specimens cycled without failure. The ESF-IM specimens were significantly stiffer and stronger than the plated repair groups. Plated constructs had significantly higher strain energies than ESF-IM. LP and NLP were of equal stiffness, strength, and strain energies. This study demonstrated that bending biomechanical properties of the ESF-IM configuration were superior to those of the dorsal plate fixation. Exact properties of fixation required to facilitate avian fracture healing are largely unknown. Further study, including assessments of optimal plate position and configuration, and torsional and in vivo studies in avian species are warranted.

Ex vivo biomechanical evaluation of pigeon (Columba livia) cadaver intact humeri and ostectomized humeri stabilized with caudally applied titanium locking plate or stainless steel nonlocking plate constructs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate mechanical properties of pigeon (Columba livia) cadaver intact humeri versus ostectomized humeri stabilized with a locking or nonlocking plate. SAMPLE 30 humeri from pigeon cadavers. PROCEDURES Specimens were allocated into 3 groups and tested in bending and torsion. Results for intact pigeon humeri were compared with results for ostectomized humeri repaired with a titanium 1.6-mm screw locking plate or a stainless steel 1.5-mm dynamic compression plate; the ostectomized humeri mimicked a fracture in a thin cortical bone. Locking plates were secured with locking screws (2 bicortical and 4 monocortical), and nonlocking plates were secured with bicortical nonlocking screws. Constructs were cyclically tested nondestructively in 4-point bending and then tested to failure in bending. A second set of constructs were cyclically tested non-destructively and then to failure in torsion. Stiffness, strength, and strain energy of each construct were compared. RESULTS Intact specimens were stiffer and stronger than the repair groups for all testing methods, except for nonlocking constructs, which were significantly stiffer than intact specimens under cyclic bending. Intact bones had significantly higher strain energies than locking plates in both bending and torsion. Locking and nonlocking plates were of equal strength and strain energy, but not stiffness, in bending and were of equal strength, stiffness, and strain energy in torsion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results for this study suggested that increased torsional strength may be needed before bone plate repair can be considered as the sole fixation method for avian species.

MIP-3ß/CCL19 is associated with the intrathecal invasion of mononuclear cells in neuroinflammatory and non-neuroinflammatory CNS diseases in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Chemokines such as MIP-3ß/CCL19 are important factors in the mechanism of cell migration and pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory reactions. The hypothesis of this study is that CCL19, also known as MIP-3ß, is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and non-inflammatory CNS diseases of dogs. Experiments were performed on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of dogs affected with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) during the acute phase as well as during treatment. Dogs with SRMA were compared to dogs with presumed meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin (MUO), and both groups sub-categorized into dogs receiving no therapy and with patients receiving prednisolone therapy. Idiopathic epilepsy (IE), a group with normal CSF cell count, was used as a control. Additionally, dogs with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) of varying severity were analyzed. Chemokine concentrations were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Migration assays were performed on seven selected CSF samples using a disposable 96-well chemotaxis chamber. RESULTS: CCL19 was detectable in CSF samples of all dogs. Dogs with untreated SRMA and MUO displayed pronounced CCL19 elevations compared to the control group and patients receiving glucocorticosteroid treatment. CSF cell counts of untreated SRMA and MUO patients were significantly positively correlated with the CCL19 CSF concentration. IVDD patients also had elevated CCL19 concentration compared to controls, but values were considerably lower than in inflammatory CNS diseases. Selected CSF samples displayed chemotactic activity for mononuclear cells in the migration assay. CONCLUSIONS: CCL19 CSF concentrations were markedly elevated in patients affected with the neuroinflammatory diseases SRMA and MUO and showed a strong correlation with the CSF cell count. This chemokine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SRMA and MUO. The elevation of CSF CCL19 in IVDD suggests that it may also be involved in the secondary wave of spinal cord injuries.

Periorbital adenocarcinoma in a bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).

A 4.5-year-old female bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented for periorbital swelling affecting the left eye. A well-organized, hypoechoic mass was noted ventral and medial to the globe on ocular ultrasound. The mass continued to grow despite antibiotic therapy, and an exenteration was performed. The mass was diagnosed via histopathology and immunohistochemical staining as a probable lacrimal gland carcinoma, although a Harderian gland origin could not definitively be ruled out. The tumor recurred following removal, and the lizard died 2 months postoperatively.