Combined cholecystotomy, retrograde hydropulsion, and choledochal stenting to treat extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction in 3 cats.

Extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction (EHBO) is uncommonly encountered in cats. Surgical treatment aims to decompress the biliary tract and insure bile duct patency. In veterinary medicine, cholecystotomy is not widely used in practice. The objective was to describe the use of cholecystotomy, retrograde hydropulsion of choleliths, and choledochal stenting to remove choleliths from the extrahepatic biliary tract back in the gallbladder. Three adult domestic shorthair cats were presented with anorexia, lethargy, and vomiting. Serum biochemistry revealed hyperbilirubinemia and increased hepatic enzymes. Abdominal ultrasonography showed evidence of EHBO requiring surgical intervention. Choleliths were localized in the proximal and middle portions of the common bile duct (CBD) in the first case, in the distal portion of the CBD and within the major duodenal papilla in the second case, and in the middle and distal portions of the CBD in the third case. Cholecystotomy was followed by retrograde hydropulsion of the choleliths into the gallbladder, after which choledochal stenting was performed. Complications were defined as major when requiring additional medical or surgical treatment, or minor when not. Three major complications were reported. In 2 cases, severe anemia requiring blood transfusion occurred 24 h postoperatively; in 1 case, EHBO recurrence was encountered 41 d postoperatively. All cats were discharged within 4 d following surgery. Two cats were still alive at 12 and 14 mo after surgery, respectively. In the last case, owners refused revision surgery and the cat was euthanized. Key clinical message: Cholecystotomy combined with retrograde hydropulsion of choleliths permitted removal of choleliths and decompression of the biliary tract in 3 cats. Major complications included severe anemia and EHBO recurrence.

Cholécystotomie combinée, hydropulsion rétrograde et pose de stent cholédocien pour traiter l'obstruction des voies biliaires extra-hépatiques chez 3 chats. Les obstructions biliaires extra-hépatiques (OBEH) sont peu fréquentes chez le chat. Le traitement chirurgical vise à lever l'obstruction et s'assurer de la perméabilité des voies biliaires. En médecine vétérinaire, la cholécystotomie est une technique peu pratiquée. L'objectif de ce rapport de cas était de décrire l'utilisation de la cholécystotomie, de l'hydropulsion rétrograde des cholélithes et d'une prothèse endoluminale cholédoquale (PEC) pour repousser les cholélithes présents dans les voies biliaires extrahépatiques dans la vésicule biliaire (VB).Trois chats européens adultes ont été présentés pour anorexie, léthargie et vomissements. La biochimie sérique a révélé une hyperbilirubinémie et une augmentation des enzymes hépatiques. L'échographie abdominale a mis en évidence une OBEH nécessitant une intervention chirurgicale. Les cholélithes étaient situés dans la portion proximale et moyenne du canal cholédoque pour le premier cas; dans la portion distale et la papille duodénale majeure dans le second cas; dans la portion moyenne et distale pour le troisième cas. Une cholécystotomie a été suivie d'une rétro-hydropulsion des cholélithes dans la VB, puis une PEC a été placée. Les complications ont été définies comme majeures lorsqu'elles nécessitaient un traitement médical ou chirurgical supplémentaire, ou mineures lorsqu'elles n'en nécessitaient pas.Trois complications majeures ont été rapportées : chez 2 cas, une anémie sévère a été observée 24 h après l'intervention, nécessitant une transfusion sanguine; chez un cas, une récidive d'obstruction biliaire a eu lieu à 41 jours postopératoire. Tous les patients sont sortis de l'hôpital dans les 4 jours suivant l'opération. Deux cas étaient encore en vie 12 et 14 mois après l'intervention. Pour le dernier cas, la seconde chirurgie a été refusée par les propriétaires et le chat a été euthanasié.Message clinique clé :La cholécystotomie combinée à l'hydropulsion rétrograde des cholélithes a permis le retrait de cholélithes obstructives (dont certaines distales) et la décompression du tractus biliaire chez 3 chats. Les complications majeures incluaient une anémie sévère et une récidive d'obstruction biliaire.(Traduit par les auteurs).

Prevalence of elbow dysplasia in 13 dog breeds in France: a retrospective radiographic study (2002-2022).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of elbow dysplasia (ED) in 13 dog breeds in France. ANIMALS: A total of 18,870 elbow radiographs taken from 2002 to 2022 were evaluated by 2 independent examiners. METHODS: For each breed, the incidence of each of the 4 International Elbow Working Group scoring classes was extracted from the database. Breeds were excluded if fewer than 150 radiographs had been read for that breed. RESULTS: This study included 17,861 records for 13 dog breeds: American Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Old German Shepherd (Altdeutscher Schäferhund), American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, White Swiss Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cane Corso, Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, and Dogue de Bordeaux. The overall prevalence of ED was 11.4%, ranging from 1.1% in the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog to 32.2% in the Dogue de Bordeaux. The Dogue de Bordeaux, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Cane Corso breeds were most commonly affected by ED. The prevalence of ED was significantly higher in male dogs than in female dogs (17.5% vs 10.5%, P < .05). Joint incongruity and fragmented coronoid process were the 2 most common primary ED lesions identified. The prevalence of ED among the dogs evaluated decreased over the timeframe of the study. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study help to clarify the prevalence of ED in different breeds in France. These data should be interpreted with caution as this study included a small percentage of the total number of dogs born for each breed in France over the study period.

Retrospective study of the early clinical experience with a precontoured angle-stable interlocking nail for fracture repair in dogs and cats.

OBJECTIVE: To report indications, outcomes, and complications with a precontoured angle-stable interlocking nail (CAS-ILN). ANIMALS: 90 client-owned animals. METHODS: Dogs and cats treated with the CAS-ILN between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Collected data included body weight, fracture configuration, percentage of medullary canal filled, limb alignment, complications, and follow-up. Favorable outcomes were defined when full functional restoration was observed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight dogs and 52 cats were included. Median body weight was 4.3 kg (range, 1.5 to 6.7 kg) for cats and 25 kg (range, 6.8 to 54 kg) for dogs. A total of 54 femurs, 31 tibias, and 5 humeri were treated, including 65 comminuted fractures and 26 metaphyseal fractures. The median percentage of medullary canal occupied by the nail was 76.5% (range, 53% to 97.6%). Radiographic postoperative bone alignment was good in 85.5% (59/69) and satisfactory in 10 cases. The median duration of follow-up (57/90) was 476 days (range, 56 to 1,057 days). In the perioperative period (0 to 12 weeks), lameness had resolved or was mild in all (51/52) but 1 case. In the long-term postoperative period (> 12 months), 97.1% (34/35) of cases showed restoration of full function and 1 case had an unacceptable function. An overall complication rate of 11.5% (7/61) was reported including 1 catastrophic and 6 major complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Long-term functional outcomes following the CAS-ILN were favorable in 97.1% (34/35) of cases. Complication rates were comparable to previous studies. The CAS-ILN appears to be an alternative surgical option for most long-bone fracture repairs.

Concurrent bucket handle meniscal tear treated with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy does not influence midterm outcomes after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in dogs with bucket handle meniscal tears and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), compared with dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and no meniscal tear treated by TPLO alone. ANIMALS: 30 client-owned dogs with cranial cruciate rupture treated by either TPLO and arthroscopy alone if the meniscus was normal (normal meniscus [NM] group, n = 14) or by TPLO and an arthroscopic partial meniscectomy if a bucket handle tear was diagnosed (meniscal tear [MT] group, n = 16). METHODS: Medical records, lameness score, and symmetry gait analysis parameters were retrospectively collected from patient records preoperatively (PreO), then at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively (M1, M3, and M6, respectively). Osteoarthritic (OA) radiographic score was performed and compared at PreO and M6. RESULTS: PreO gait analysis parameters were lower in the MT group (P < 0.005). In the MT group, the lameness score significantly improved between PreO and M1, and there were no significant differences between groups at M6. OA score was significantly higher in the MT group at PreO and M6. However, postoperative progression of OA did not differ between the 2 groups (P = 0.16). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatment for meniscal tear results in a significant improvement in lameness, with postoperative outcomes at 6 months comparable with dogs with intact menisci. Despite having significant osteoarthritic lesions at all time points, the progression of osteoarthritis is similar between dogs with meniscal tears and those with intact menisci.

Ex vivo postimplantation biomechanical properties of a press-fit cementless femoral stem with transfixation pin for canine total hip replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ex vivo postimplantation biomechanical characteristics of 3 implants for canine total hip replacement: a cementless press-fit femoral stem with a pin in the femoral neck (p-pfFS), a press-fit cementless femoral stem without this pin (pfFS), and a cemented femoral stem (cFS). SAMPLE: 18 cadaveric femurs from 9 dogs. PROCEDURES: Femurs were assigned randomly to 3 groups, and biomechanical testing was performed by measuring vertical displacement during cyclic loading and resistance to failure with compression parallel to the longitudinal axis of the femur. Force-displacement curves were assessed for failure tests, and work necessary for failure was calculated. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in vertical displacement during cyclic loading (P = .263) or work necessary for failure (P = .079). Loads to failure for cFS and p-pfFS implants were significantly greater than that for the pfFS, but no significant difference in load to failure was observed between cFS and p-pfFS implants (P = .48). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cementless femoral stems with a transfixation pin offer significantly greater immediate resistance to failure to compressive loads parallel to the longitudinal axis of the femur than standard cementless stems, and a level of stability comparable to that of cemented stems. p-pfFS implants may be valuable in total hip replacement, potentially reducing the risk of fracture during the early postoperative period prior to osteointegration.

A morphometric analysis of thoracolumbar vertebrae in goat by computed tomography.

The goat spine is widely used as an animal model for preclinical research in human medicine to test new spinal implants and surgical procedures. Therefore, precise morphometric data are needed. This study aims to provide morphometric data of the goat thoracolumbar vertebrae and to define the parameters/characteristics of the optimum implantation corridors for pedicle screws in the thoracolumbar spine in goat. Eleven 36-month-old adult alpine goats were included in this study, and a sample of 198 vertebrae was measured. Subsequently, transverse and sagittal images were obtained using a multi-detector-row helical computed tomography (CT) scanner. Measurements of the vertebral bodies (ventral body width VBW, ventral body depth VBD, ventral body height ventral VBHv, ventral body high dorsal VBHd, spinal canal depth SCD, spinal canal width SCW), pedicles (pedicle length PDL, pedicle width PDW, pedicle angle PA and pedicle axis length PAL), intervertebral disc (DT) and transverse process length (TPL) were performed with dedicated software. The vertebral bodies and the spinal canal were wider than deep, mostly evident in the lumbar region. The intervertebral discs were as much as 65.7% thicker in the lumbar spine than in the thoracic spine. The pedicles were longer than wide over the thoracic and lumbar spines. The insertion angles in pedicle were approximately 30° for the T2-T4 segment, 25° for the T5-T6 segment, 23° for the T6 to T11 segment, 20° for T11 to L3, 25° for L4 and 30° for L5 and L6. In conclusion, the generated data can serve as a CT reference for the caprine thoracolumbar spine and may be helpful in using the goat spine as an animal model for human spinal research.