In comparison with the previous report, we observed similar injury mechanisms, demographics and causes of death. However, in our experience, there was an improved access to the medical system, greater proportion of late deaths due to brain injury and lack of the classic trimodal distribution.

Age greater than 55 years, ISS greater than or equal to 25, and greater than 6 U RBC/12 hours are early independent predictors of MOF. Subgroup analyses indicate that BD and lactate levels may add substantial predictive value. Moreover, these results emphasize the predominant role of the initial insult in the pathogenesis of postinjury MOF.

Bacterial septic arthritis may often be mild and manifest as chronic lameness. Analysis of joint fluid will detect an inflammatory arthropathy but the presence of toxic neutrophils should not be relied on as an indicator of sepsis. Culture of infected joint fluid is likely to be successful if antimicrobials are not given prior to collection and if the sample is inoculated into enrichment broth. Treatment should involve antimicrobial drugs, open-joint lavage and removal of joint prostheses if the infection is associated with previous surgery.

Three surgical techniques, grouped as intra-articular techniques, extracapsular techniques and fibular head transposition, were used for repair of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)-deficient stifle in 113 dogs over a 4 year 4 month period. The clinical outcome of the techniques were compared using information provided by the owners and physical examination. Regardless of surgical technique, 85.7 to 91.0% of dogs showed clinical improvement after surgery. However, less than 50% of dogs became clinically sound on the operated leg and 9.0 to 14.3% of dogs remained persistently lame on the operated leg. No statistical association was found between result after surgery and age, body weight, sex, duration of injury before surgery, association with injury, tibial plateau angle, degree of radiographic osteoarthritis before surgery or the presence of concurrent medial meniscal injury. On physical examination, extra-capsular techniques appeared superior to the fibular head transposition in terms of joint stability and limb function. Concurrent medial meniscal injury necessitating meniscectomy existed in 48.0% of cases. Twenty-two percent of dogs ruptured their contralateral CCL at an average of 14 months after the first.

A condition has been recognised in five young dogs in which the proximal tibia exhibited cranial bowing. This altered conformation, sometimes accompanied by bow legs (genu varum), occurs bilaterally, but to differing degrees. The deformity apparently altered the biomechanics of the stifle joint so that degenerative joint disease and rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament followed in four of the five dogs. The aetiology is unknown, but the most likely cause appears to be retardation of growth in the caudal aspect of the proximal tibial physis. Treatment involving surgical techniques to correct the joint instability was only moderately successful.

Hiatal hernia is not completely understood in humans or animals. It has a complex multifactorial aetiology and pathophysiology. A primary disturbance of the lower oesophageal sphincter has not been shown in humans or animals. Knowledge of pathophysiology is necessary to institute appropriate treatment. Medical and/or surgical therapy is not indicated in asymptomatic cases. Medical treatment should be used for up to 1 month in stable cases of sliding hiatal hernia. Paraoesophageal hiatal hernias and any large sliding hiatal hernia should be considered for prompt surgical treatment. Surgical techniques used depend on the type of hiatal hernia present. Surgical treatment of hiatal hernia cases should be performed by experienced surgeons, and must include hiatal closure and gastropexy. The Nissen fundoplication procedure has been discontinued in the veterinary field due to poor success rates, coupled with the published view that there is a marked difference in pathophysiology between humans and dogs. Reported complications associated with the original Nissen fundoplication technique are identical in the human and veterinary literature. There have been no complications reported with use of the modified or 'floppy' Nissen fundoplication in dogs. Both oesophagopexy and Nissen fundoplication require further evaluation in small animals.

Pectinate ligament dysplasia (PLD) in dogs is a congenital ocular abnormality affecting the iridocorneal angle, the presence of which may be associated with adult-onset primary glaucoma. This study demonstrates a significant association between PLD and glaucoma in Flat Coated Retrievers, and also a higher prevalence of PLD in Flat Coated Retrievers compared with other breeds. It is shown that the association between PLD and glaucoma was robust and not due to a small increase in PLD with age. There was also a significant association between PLD in offspring and parents and, using the offspring-parents regression, the heritability of PLD was estimated as approximately 0.7. As glaucoma is significantly related to PLD, glaucoma may also be heritable. Thus, glaucoma can be controlled by gonioscopic examination and elimination of animals with a high degree of PLD from a breeding program. Breeding from only those animals with a moderate or low PLD value or score should limit the expected prevalence of glaucoma in the resulting population to < 0.2%. The preceding study describes in detail the PLD survey, gonioscopic technique and some initial results obtained prior to this epidemiological investigation.

Objective To provide a detailed discussion of the aetiology and pathophysiology of hiatal hernia in both humans and small animals, and review current medical and surgical treatments. Design Review article.Summary Hiatal hernia is not completely understood in humans or animals. It has a complex multifactorial aetiology and pathophysiology. A primary disturbance of the lower oesophageal sphincter has not been shown in humans or animals. Knowledge of pathophysiology is necessary to institute appropriate treatment.Medical and/or surgical therapy is not indicated in asymptomatic cases. Medical treatment should be used for up to 1 month in stable cases of sliding hiatal hernia. Paraoesophageal hiatal hernias and any large sliding hiatal hernia should be considered for prompt surgical treatment. Surgical techniques used depend on the type of hiatal hernia present.Surgical treatment of hiatal hernia cases should be performed by experienced surgeons, and must include hiatal closure and gastropexy. The Nissen fundoplication procedure has been discontinued in the veterinary field due to poor success rates, coupled with the published view that there is a marked difference in pathophysiology between humans and dogs. Reported complications associated with the original Nissen fundoplication technique are identical in the human and veterinary literature. There have been no complications reported with use of the modified or 'floppy' Nissen fundoplication in dogs. Both oesophagopexy and Nissen fundoplication require further evaluation in small animals. Aust Vet J 2002;80:48-53 HH Liatal hernia LOS (intrinsic) lower oesophageal sphincter