Probable Trophic Pad Ulceration Following Traumatic Denervation Report of Two Cases in Dogs

Two dogs developed metacarpal pad ulceration subsequent to a motor vehicle accident. Evidence of ulnar nerve damage was found in both dogs. The ulcers were treated successfully by transferring neurovascular island flap grafts from the dorsum of the foot.     

Resurfacing Canine Femoral Trochleoplasties with Free Autogenous Periosteal Grafts

Femoral trochleoplasties resurfaced with autogenous free periosteal grafts in six dogs were compared to femoral trochleoplasties performed without grafts in six dogs. The grafts produced cartilage as early as 4 weeks after surgery; however, it was fibrocartilage rather than normal hyaline articular cartilage. The trochleoplasties not resurfaced with periosteum also healed with fibrocartilage but not until 40 weeks postoperatively. The grafted stifles had less patellar cartilage damage when compared to trochleoplasties left to heal without resurfacing.     

Coxofemoral Luxation in the Dog and Cat

The medical records from 95 cases of coxofemoral luxation in dogs and cats were reviewed. Unilateral craniodorsal luxation was most common, (78.1% of dogs, 72.7% of cats). Trauma from being struck by an automobile was the most frequent cause (59.0%). Treatment was closed (manual) or open (surgical) reduction. The failure rate following single closed reduction was 64.8%. The surgical reduction procedure included capsular repair (capsulorrhaphy) via a craniolateral approach to the hip or via trochanteric osteotomy or gluteal tenotomy. The success rate following reduction via the craniolateral approach was 82%; no failure was recorded with trochanteric transposition, but reluxa-tion followed the single gluteal tenotomy. The Ehmer sling was the most common external fixation and was kept in place an average of 12.5 days. Thirty-three animals were available for follow-up, and no difference was recorded in limb function between the two groups of animals treated by closed vs surgical reduction. Patients with degenerative joint disease at the time of luxation were less likely to be successfully reduced; 64.3% of these animals were eventually treated by femoral head and neck excision. Thirty-eight patients had associated major injuries. Long-term follow-up results were better in those patients with concomitant orthopedic injuries than in those without other injuries.     

Analgesia in Dogs After Intercostal Thoracotomy: A Clinical Trial Comparing Intravenous Buprenorphine and Interpleural Bupivacaine

We prospectively studied 26 dogs that presented for intercostal thoracotomy. Dogs were pre-medicated with oxymorphone, induced with diazepam and etomidate, and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Preoperatively, animal patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 13) received buprenorphine (10 μg/kg intravenously [IV]) every 6 hours for 24 hours starting 10 minutes before tracheal extubation. Group 2 (n = 13) received 0.5% bupivacaine (1.5 mg/kg) administered interpleural (IP) by slow injection through a pediatric feeding tube fixed to the most dorsal aspect of the thoracotomy incision. Interpleural injections were administered with each dog placed in lateral recumbency with the incision positioned ventrally; IP injections were administered every 4 hours for 24 hours starting 10 minutes before tracheal extubation. All cases were monitored in the intensive care unit for 24 hours postoper-atively. The analgesic efficacy of each regimen was evaluated using a pain scoring system that included a subjective pain score, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gases, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and changes in the electrocardiogram or neurological status were also noted. Significant increases in mean heart rate, respiratory rate, and total pain score occurred after surgery in dogs in the buprenorphine group. In contrast, dogs in the bupivacaine group had no significant changes when compared with their preoperative values. Dogs in the bupivacaine group had significantly decreased total pain scores and better PaO₂ and oxygen saturation values when compared with the dogs receiving buprenorphine. Hypoventilation did not occur in either group.     

Retroversion of the Epiglottis as a Complication of Endotracheal Intubation in the Horse A Pilot Study

As part of a study of possible causes of postoperative pulmonary complications of general anesthesia in the horse, lateral cervical radiographs were taken after endotracheal intubation in nine randomly selected horses. The epiglottis was found to be retroverted in three. Subsequently, the effects of epiglottic retroversion during anesthesia on postoperative laryngeal function were investigated experimentally in three horses by fluoroscopy. No untoward sequelae were observed. Prophylaxis and potential adverse effects of this previously unreported complication of endotracheal intubation in the horse are discussed.     

Effect of Four Antimicrobial Lavage Solutions on the Tarsocrural Joint of Horses

Three concentrations of povidone-iodine (0.1% w/v, 0.2% w/v, 0.5% w/v) and one concentration of chlorhexidine (0.5% w/v) were selected as antimicrobial joint lavage solutions. Through-and-through joint lavage was performed with one of these antimicrobial solutions on a tarsocrural joint of 12 horses. The contralateral tarsocrural joints (control limbs) were lavaged with a balanced electrolyte solution (BES). The effect of the lavage solution on the joints was evaluated with respect to lameness, foot flight pattern, soreness to joint palpation, articular and periarticular enlargement, and synovial fluid composition on Day 1,4, and 8 postlavage. On Day 8 postlavage, all horses were euthanized and the tarsocrural joints were examined.
All solutions induced a synovitis. Based on clinical assessment, synovial fluid protein levels, color, clarity, mucin clot forming ability, gross appearance of the joint at necropsy, and synovial membrane histologic evaluation, a similar, mild, transient, synovitis was induced by the BES and 0.1% povidone-iodine (PI) solution. The 0.2% PI solution induced a more prolonged neutrophilic response and poorer mucin clot forming ability in the synovial fluid as compared to the BES.
The 0.5% PI and 0.5% chlorhexidine solutions produced severe lameness, soreness to joint palpation, and limb enlargement. The elevated synovial fluid total protein content persisted significantly longer (p < 0.05) than the corresponding control (BES) solution. Histologic evaluation of the synovial membrane confirmed the presence of a moderate to severe neutrophilic synovitis in these treatment groups.     

Lateral Patellar Luxation in Miniature Horses

Bilateral luxation of the patella in four Miniature Horses was corrected by a lateral release incision and medial imbrication of the parapatellar fascia to the tendon of the sartorius muscle. Before surgery, the four horses had a grade 3 to 4 lateral patellar luxation bilaterally and had difficulty walking. Trochlear ridge hypoplasia was evident on radiographs in each horse. Follow-up information varied from 11 months to 4 years after surgery. Three horses had no patellar luxation or lameness. The other horse had a normal right stifle, but patellar luxation (grade 3) had recurred on the left.     

Capnographic Monitoring during Anesthesia with Controlled Ventilation in the Horse

Forty-five horses were maintained on halothane or isoflurane anesthesia for at least 90 minutes and received positive pressure ventilation after the first 30 minutes of anesthesia. Parameters monitored included end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (ETPCO2), arterial blood pressure, and arterial blood gases and pH. There was a statistically significant correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) for both halothane and isoflurane anesthesia. There was no significant correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and either body weight or systolic blood pressure. No statistically significant difference was found in arterial to end-tidal carbon dioxide difference nor in alveolar dead space because of time or positioning over anesthetic periods of up to 3 hours. It is concluded that end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring is a satisfactory measure of changes in respiratory acid-base balance with inhalation anesthesia in horses when ventilation is controlled.