Quantifying the effects of individual and environmental variability in fish recruitment

The effect of environmental variability on fish recruitment is analysed using simple linear growth models. It is shown that variance in an individual's environment significantly increases the probability of recruitment. It is also argued that environmental variance should lead to differences in growth rates observed in recruited fish, and in the mean observed growth rate of the overall population. These conclusions are discussed with reference to recent observations from field studies.     

Successful Cementless Cup Reimplantation Using Cortical Bone Graft Augmentation after an Acetabular Fracture and Cup Displacement

Objective— To report repair of a periprosthetic acetabular fracture with concurrent component displacement after cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Study Design— Clinical case report.
Animals— Dog (n=1) with an acetabular fracture after THA.
Methods— Acetabular repair was performed on a highly comminuted periprosthetic acetabular fracture after cementless THA. A bulk, structural corticocancellous autograft from the ipsilateral ilial wing was used for repair and reconstruction of the dorsal acetabular wall before reimplantation of a cementless acetabular component.
Results— Repair of a periprosthetic acetabular fracture with a bulk structural autograft was successful in reconstruction of the dorsal acetabular wall and in reestablishing a stable, functional cementless THA acetabular prosthesis.
Conclusions— Structural corticocancellous autografts from the ilium can be successfully used in repair of periprosthetic acetabular fractures after THA.
Clinical Relevance— Structural corticocancellous grafting from the ilium can be considered as a treatment option for repair of periprosthetic acetabular fractures after THA.     

THE RELATIVE SENSITIVITY OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND MYELOGRAPHY FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THORACOLUMBAR INTERVERTEBRAL DISK HERNIATIONS IN DOGS

We compared the relative sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) and myelography for identification of disk herniation in dogs. Criteria for patient selection included presurgical CT, myelography, or both and surgical or necropsy confirmation of disk herniation between the T3 and L6 vertebral articulations. Imaging findings were described as positive or inconclusive. Adverse events such as hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, death, and lower urinary tract infection were compared between imaging groups. One hundred and eighty-two dogs met the inclusion criteria, with 116 dogs having myelography performed as the initial diagnostic imaging modality and 66 dogs having CT performed as the initial modality. The relative sensitivity for locating the site of disk herniation was 83.6% when myelography was the first test performed and 81.8% when CT was the first test performed. CT was more sensitive than myelography at detecting lesions in chronically affected dogs ( P =0.025). Myelography was more sensitive than CT at detecting lesions in smaller dogs (<5 kg; P =0.004). Dogs that received both imaging modalities were significantly more likely to die or be euthanized compared with myelography alone ( P <0.001). Both myelography and CT are reasonable diagnostic imaging modalities for locating the site of disk herniation. CT should be considered especially in heavier, more chronically affected dogs. The major limitations of this study include lack of randomization to imaging modality and the use of surgical exploration or necropsy as the gold standard.     

Cervical Spinal Locking Plate in Combination with Cortical Ring Allograft for a One Level Fusion in Dogs with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Objective— To evaluate use of a surgical technique commonly used in humans for treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in dogs.
Design— Prospective case series.
Animals— Dogs with CSM (n=10).
Methods— Dogs weighing >30 kg that had CSM at 1 vertebral articulation were eligible for inclusion. Dogs had vertebral column distraction/fusion performed using a cortical ring allograft, cancellous autograft, and a spinal locking plate. Dogs were evaluated temporally by repeat neurological examinations and by client perception of postsurgical outcome, determined by telephone interview.
Results— Nine dogs survived the immediate postoperative period. Seven of 8 dogs had moderate to complete improvement without recurrence (mean follow-up, 2.48 years). The most common postsurgical complications were screw loosening (n=4) and plate shifting (2), neither of which required surgical revision. One dog had pseudoarthrosis that may have negatively impacted outcome.
Conclusion— Treatment of single level CSM in dogs with ring allograft and a spinal locking plate system may lead to successful outcomes. The major problems encountered with included cost of the implants and adjusting the system designed for humans to fit the vertebral column of a dog.
Clinical Relevance— For dogs with CSM at a single level, the use of a spinal locking plate in combination with a cortical ring allograft can be an effective surgical treatment. Costs of the implants as well as anatomic differences in dogs make this type of surgery less appealing.