En Bloc Resection of Primary Rib Tumors in 40 Dogs

Single or multiple rib resection was performed in 40 dogs for the treatment of primary osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma. The resulting thoracic wall defect was closed with polypropylene (12 dogs), primary muscle flap (16 dogs), diaphragmatic advancement (10 dogs), or a combination (2 dogs). Few immediate (less than 2 weeks) postoperative complications were observed. Twenty dogs with osteosarcoma had a median survival time of 3.3 months (range, 0.5 to 23 months), with a 20% 6-month survival time. Metastases occurred in all the dogs. Fourteen dogs with chondrosarcoma followed up longer than 2 weeks had a median survival time of 10.7 months (range, 0.5 to 36 months) with a 64% 6-month survival time. Eight dogs developed metastases, five died from concurrent disease, and one dog is alive. Dogs with chondrosarcoma survived significantly longer than dogs with osteosarcoma. Survival time was not related to tumor size or number of ribs resected.     

Osteochondral Dowel Transplantation for Repair of Focal Defects in the Knee: An Outcome Study Using an Ovine Model

Objective—A model system was developed to objectively assess the quality of articular cartilage after surgical reconstruction of focal defects in the medial femoral condyle using osteochondral dowel grafts.
Study Design—The surgical technique was developed and customized to reproducibly minimize surgical trauma and graft instability in order to improve the survival of the transplanted cartilage and the long-term integrity of the joint surfaces.
Animals or Sample Population—24 adult female Suffolk-Romanoff crossbred sheep.
Methods—Biomechanical creep testing, paravital staining for chondrocyte viability, histological analysis, and gross morphological analysis were performed at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively to compare fresh autografted osteochondral dowels with allografts that had been subject to a freezing protocol known to kill chondrocytes. The latter was used to investigate the time course of cartilage degeneration after injury. These two groups were also compared with normal unoperated control tissue.
Results—Biomechanical behavior, chondrocyte survival, and cartilage histology differed significantly between fresh grafts and those that had been frozen.
Conclusions —Indentation testing and paravital staining were able to identify degenerative changes earlier than other methods of assessment. The technique developed here reproducibly and reliably transplanted osteochondral dowel grafts while minimizing the confounding effects of surgical trauma and graft instability.
Clinical Relevance —The technique provides both a promising surgical technique for the repair of focal defects of the medial femoral condyle and a sensitive model for the future study of cryopreservation strategies for articular cartilage.     

Evaluation of Low Level Laser Therapy on Primary Healing of Experimentally Induced Full Thickness Teat Wounds in Dairy Cattle

Objective —The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on sutured wounds of the teat in dairy cattle.
Study Design —By using the Latin square design, the effect of LLLT was evaluated by radiography, measurement of microcirculation flow, histopathology, tensiometry, and hydroxyproline analysis.
Animals or Sample Population —Sixteen teats of four dairy cattle.
Methods —Full thickness wounds were made on the cranial surface of the teats. Teats were distributed into four groups; group A and B wounds were closed with a Gambee pattern, group C and D wounds were closed with three-layers of continuous suture pattern. Group B and D wounds were treated with 3.64 J/cm² of LLLT using a helium-neon system continuous wave (632.8 nm) output of 8.5 mW.
Results —The teat wall in non-LLLT groups was significantly thicker than in LLLT groups on day 7, 14 and 21. The mean blood flow differences between control and sutured sites in LLLT groups were significantly lower than those in non-LLLT groups. The morphology of the epidermis in LLLT groups more closely resembled the normal epidermis than that of non-LLLT groups. Collagen fibers in LLLT groups were denser, thicker, better arranged and more continuous with existing collagen fibers than those in non-LLLT groups. The mean tensile strength was significantly greater in LLLT groups than in non-LLLT groups.
Conclusion —The LLLT affects various aspects of the healing process, including minimizing inflammation, formation of edema, improvement of skin regeneration and enhancement of collagen synthesis.
Clinical Relevance —The LLLT could accelerate healing of sutured wounds of the teat in dairy cattle.     

Proximal Urethral Reconstruction Using a Distally Based Ventral Bladder Tube Flap An Experimental Study

Reconstruction of the proximal urethra using a distally based tube flap mobilized from the ventral bladder wall was performed on 12 clinically normal dogs after total prostatectomy and resection of 2 cm of membranous urethra. One dog was euthanized at 6 hours and one at 36 hours after surgery because of surgical complications. Five dogs were euthanized at 10 days, two dogs at 6 weeks and three dogs at 12 weeks. Advancement of the tube flap allowed for tension-free anastomosis to the membranous urethra. Vascular integrity was maintained in all flaps. Intermittent to continuous postoperative urinary incontinence occurred in 7 of 10 dogs. The incontinence was transient in all 6 and 12 week dogs except one in which a persistent stress incontinence developed. Mild to severe dysuria was noted in 8 of 10 dogs, but was also transient in all of the 6 and 12 week dogs, with the exception of one dog. Postoperative urethral closure pressure profilometry revealed decreased tone in the membranous urethra in all 6 and 12 week dogs. It was concluded that proximal urethral reconstruction, using a ventral bladder tube flap, is a viable technique that may permit functional urodynamic recovery in dogs with significant proximal urethral loss.     

The Intercarpal Ligaments of the Equine Midcarpal Joint, Part 1: The Anatomy of the Palmar and Dorsomedial Intercarpal Ligaments of the Midcarpal Joint

Objective— To describe in detail the structure of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament (MPICL), the lateral palmar intercarpal ligament (LPICL), and a dorsomedial intercarpal ligament (DMICL) of the equine midcarpal joint.
Study Design— Dissections of equine midcarpal joints.
Animals and Sample Population— Ten carpal joints from eight thoroughbred horses.
Methods— Detailed dissections of the midcarpal joint were performed, with particular attention paid to the MPICL, the LPICL, and the DMICL. The attachments and dimensions of these structures were recorded, as well as their behavior during joint movement.
Results— The DMICL arose from the dorsomedial surface of the radial carpal bone (CR) and coursed palmarodistally to insert on the dorsomedial aspect of the second carpal bone (C2). The LPICL attached proximally predominantly on the distal part of the palmaromedial surface of the ulnar carpal bone (CU). From here the ligament coursed distomedially and slightly palmarly to the proximal palmarolateral surface of the third carpal bone (C3). The structure of the MPICL was complex. It attached proximally to the distolateral surface of the CR and distally to the proximal palmaromedial surface of C3, and the proximal palmarolateral aspect of the C2. It could be divided into four fiber bundles in all carpi. The predominant direction of fibers was dorsoproximal to palmarodistal, whereas the palmaromedial bundle coursed palmaroproximal to dorsodistal.
Conclusions— The orientation of their fibers indicate that the MPICL and DMICL primarily resist dorsomedial displacement of CR, whereas the LPICL resists dorsolateral displacement of the CU and intermediate carpal bone.
Clinical Relevance An understanding of the structure of the intercarpal ligaments of the midcarpal joint is important in interpreting their function and the reasons for damage to their structure.     

Heterotopic Transfer of Fresh and Cryopreserved Autogenous Articular Cartilage in the Horse

Two 10 mm thick osteochondral grafts were harvested from the lateral aspect of the lateral trochlear ridge of the left talus in each of 10 anesthetized horses. The grafts were frozen in a 7.5% DMSO solution and stored in liquid nitrogen. The horses were anesthetized again on day 14 and the thawed grafts were press-fitted into drill holes in the trochlear ridges of the right stifle. A fresh graft was transferred from the right hock to the left stifle. To control for the effects of surgery, another fresh graft was transferred from the right stifle to the left stifle. The result was two grafts in each femoropatellar joint. Fresh and frozen osteoarticular autografts appeared to maintain a durable weight-bearing surface for 3 months; however, the fresh grafts were clearly superior. Frozen grafts had fewer living chondrocytes, decreased safranin-O staining, and decreased SO435 uptake. Graft stability and articular surface congruency were determining factors in the outcome of all grafts. Since the availability of osteochondral autografts is limited, further work on the use of preserved allogeneic osteochondral tissue is warranted.     

Partial Resection and Omentalization: A New Technique for Management of Prostatic Retention Cysts in Dogs

Objective- The purpose of this study was to determine the results of a new technique for management of prostatic retention cysts in dogs.
Study Design- A retrospective clinical study.
Animals- Eighteen client-owned dogs.
Methods- Dogs with prostatic retention cysts were treated by celiotomy and drainage of the cysts. The majority of the cyst wall was resected and residual cyst cavities were packed with omentum. All dogs were castrated.
Results- Long-term resolution of clinical signs was achieved in all dogs, with follow-up periods ranging from 6 to 42 months. Five dogs developed urinary incontinence postoperatively. This persisted in two dogs, but was well controlled with phenylpropanolamine. In the remaining dogs, the incontinence was transient and resolved within 2 months of surgery.
Conclusions- Partial cyst resection combined with omentalization and castration was a simple and effective means of managing prostatic retention cysts. The incidence of serious complications, including postoperative urinary incontinence, was low.     

Fixation of Femoral Capital Physeal Fractures with 7.0 mm Cannulated Screws in Five Bulls

Salter-Harris type I fractures of the femoral capital physis were repaired in five Holstein bulls with three 7.0 mm cannulated screws placed in lag fashion. Radiographically at months 7 to 10, the fractures were healed and there was periarticular bone production on the femoral necks and the dorsal acetabular rims. Four bulls had normal gaits, and one bull had muscle atrophy and barely detectable lameness.