Thirty-six dogs undergoing 49 pelvic osteotomies (POs) stabilised either by manually twisted dynamic compression plates (DCPs; n= 29) or canine pelvic osteotomy plates (CPOPs; n = 20) were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative radiographs were available for all POs and 36 had additional radiographic follow-up. Pelvic osteotomies with CPOPs were more likely to have three screws placed in the sacrum while DCPs were associated with none, one or two screws in the sacrum. There was no difference in the postoperative sagittal alignment of the acetabular segments for POs with DCPs or CPOPs. Screw loosening was the most common complication (n = 13/36, 36 per cent), usually involving screws in the ilial segment. On follow-up radiographs, medial displacement of the acetabular segment was most frequently associated with screw loosening and plate bending. Medial displacement of the acetabular segment caused apparent pelvic narrowing on radiographs, more pronounced in dogs with bilateral POs, but clinical problems were not reported.

Arthroscopy was used to diagnose and treat osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the femoral condyle in six dogs. Bilateral lesions were seen in two dogs. The medial condyle was affected in five stifles, and the lateral condyle was affected in three stifles. Subchondral bone defects were identified on radiographs in six of eight affected stifles. Resolution of the lameness associated with the arthroscopic procedure occurred one-to-14 days (mean, three days) following arthroscopy. Lameness resolved completely in four cases within two weeks and in one case six weeks following arthroscopy. Mild lameness persisted in one case. Arthroscopy is an effective means of diagnosis and treatment of OCD of the femoral condyle, and it is associated with minimal postoperative morbidity when compared to arthrotomy.

The clinical findings in 18 dogs with gracilis (n = 17) or semitendinosus (n = 1) myopathy are described. Each dog had a similar hind-limb gait abnormality characterized by a shortened stride with a rapid, elastic medial rotation of the paw, internal rotation of the hock and external rotation of the calcaneus [corrected] and internal rotation of the stifle during the mid-to-late swing phase of the stride. Medical management prior to or in lieu of surgery was attempted (n = 8) with no apparent response. Fifteen dogs had one or multiple surgical procedures. Although transection, partial excision, or complete resection of the affected muscle resulted in resolution of lameness following surgery, lameness recurred six weeks to five months (mean, 2.5 months; median, two months) following surgery. Adjunctive medical treatment did not prevent recurrence. Variable replacement of the affected muscle with fibrous connective tissue (predominantly along the caudolateral border of the muscle) was evident grossly, and replacement of myofibers with fibrous connective tissue was confirmed histologically. A definitive etiology could not be established.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of synovial fluid culture in obtaining the causative organism from dogs with suspected septic arthritis.Methods In this retrospective evaluation, synovial fluid cytology and microbiology submissions from dogs with suspected septic arthritis from March 2007 to August 2011 were reviewed. Synovial fluid cytology consistent with joint sepsis was identified. Cultures of synovial fluid from dogs with clinical histories and abnormalities consistent with septic arthritis were used to evaluate the efficacy of bacterial isolation.Results In total, 36 dogs met the inclusion criteria. Initial aerobic cultures of joint fluid yielded bacterial growth in 44% of these dogs. All anaerobic cultures were negative. In 19% of the dogs with positive cultures, antibiotics had been administered prior to arthrocentesis compared with 10% of dogs with negative cultures. There was no association between culture efficacy and the administration of antimicrobial treatment prior to synovial fluid culture or recent surgery involving the affected joint (P = 0.637 and P = 0.106, respectively).Conclusion Culture of synovial fluid from dogs with suspected septic arthritis has a low yield, necessitating a more effective means of identifying bacteria from suspected septic joints in dogs.

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.

These cases illustrate the value of using hinged circular fixator constructs for correction of crural angular deformities, particularly when length discrepancies of the tibia are present.

An 8-month-old castrated male Saint Bernard was evaluated for bilateral hind limb lameness. Lameness was ascribed to bilateral metatarsal rotational abnormalities on the basis of the physical examination and radiographic evaluations. Staged, bilateral deformity correction and tarsometatarsal arthrodeses were performed using circular external skeletal fixators. The dog's gait improved following surgery and the fixators were removed 3 (left hind paw) and 4 (right hind paw) months following surgery. Twenty months after the initial surgery, the owner reported that the dog was walking well without apparent lameness. Previous reports suggest that metatarsal rotation is untreatable; however, our results suggest that surgical correction of this deformity can substantially improve limb function in dogs affected with metatarsal rotation.

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