Vertebral subluxation following ventral cervical decompression in the dog.

Cervical intervertebral disk disease is commonly treated surgically by ventral decompression through a ventral slot. Nine dogs with documented vertebral subluxation following surgical creation of a ventral slot are reported. The location of the subluxation was at the fourth cervical (C4) to fifth cervical (C5) intervertebral space in two dogs, C5 to sixth cervical (C6) intervertebral space in four dogs, and C6 to seventh cervical (C7) intervertebral space in three dogs. The ventral slot width to vertebral body width ratio ranged from 0.39 to 0.80, with the ratio being 0.50 or greater in seven of eight cases evaluated radiographically. Surgical reduction and stabilization were performed in seven of nine dogs.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on lipid peroxidation in free skin grafts in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To document that free skin grafts treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) are at greater risk for reperfusion injury, resulting in lipid peroxidation, than are free skin grafts without HBO treatment. ANIMALS: 40 Sprague-Dawley rats. PROCEDURE: Free skin grafting was performed bilaterally on each rat. The HBO-treated rats received HBO twice daily for 90 minutes at 2 ATA. Biopsy specimens were taken from each rat at the time of grafting and on days 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28, then were processed for tissue concentration of total glutathione (GSHt), glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), and presence of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). RESULTS: Both groups had a similar pattern of change in TBARS and GPx values--initial increase, returning to preoperative values at days 21 (control) and 28 (HBO). The GPx activity peaked later than did TBARS concentration (day 7 vs day 4). The pattern was significantly more pronounced in HBO-treated than in control rats. Both groups had a similar pattern of change in GSHt values-significant decrease from preoperative concentration at day 2, return to preoperative concentration by days 4 (HBO) and 7 (control), increase above preoperative concentration by day 21, and return to preoperative concentration by day 28. Obvious visual or histologic differences in the grafts were not detected between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cellular effects of oxidative stress were apparent in both groups of rats; however, the degree of these effects was exacerbated by HBO. In the face of enhanced cellular lipid peroxidation, use of HBO for the treatment of free skin grafts must be questioned.

Partial avulsion of the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament in a 4 year-old dog.

A four year-old intact male Dalmatian was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital at Louisiana State University for acute, non-weight-bearing left hindlimb lameness of three weeks duration. Information supplied by the referring veterinarian indicated the lameness was first diagnosed and treated seven months previously, but recurred three weeks ago. External rotation of the left stifle, mild discomfort upon stifle flexion, mild to moderate muscle atrophy and palpable joint effusion were noted during physical examination. Slight cranial drawer movement with a soft end-point was discovered during manipulation of the left stifle. A triangular bone fragment and thickened, confluent intracapsular soft tissues were observed on radiographs of the stifle. Radiographically, moderate degenerative changes suggested chronicity. This report describes the clinical and radiographic findings of a rarely reported partial avulsion of the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament in a skeletally mature dog.

Distant abdominal and thoracic pedicle skin flaps for treatment of distal limb skin defects.

The treatment of large skin defects of the distal limbs of dogs and cats can be difficult due to the lack of skin available for primary wound closure or the creation of local skin flaps. Distant pedicle skin flaps provide an acceptable alternative for wound closure with full thickness skin and provide a cosmetic result. Fourteen animals (10 dogs and four cats) that had distant pedicle skin flaps are reviewed. The technique allowed 100 per cent wound coverage in 10 of 14 animals and greater than 95 per cent skin flap survival occurred in 12 to 14 animals. complications associated with the procedure were most commonly wound infection and partial suture line dehiscence, however these did not detract from the final outcome. Flap release was in one or two stages, however the outcomes did not appear to be affected by the release protocol.