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Francesco Di Dona, Giovanni Della Valle, Gerardo Fatone Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy Abstract: Patellar luxation is a common orthopedic problem in dogs. Medial luxation is more common than lateral luxation and is usually diagnosed in dogs of small breed. Diagnosis is based on clinical evidence of patellar instability; however, diagnostic imaging is required to assess the amount of skeletal deformity and then the most appropriate method of treatment. Surgical options include both soft tissue and osseous techniques, however, in most of the cases, a combination of more procedures is used to achieve the correction of the luxation. Complication rate is generally low and the most common complications include reluxation and implant-associated complications. Prognosis is generally favorable, with most of the dogs returning to normal limb function. This article describes patellar luxation features in dogs, including clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options available. Keywords: medial patellar luxation, lateral patellar luxation, stifle, pelvic limb, dog, small breeds, canine

Objective: To evaluate outcomes after percutaneous application of transilial pinning in dogs with seventh lumbar vertebral body fracture with concurrent lumbosacral luxation. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of dogs with seventh lumbar vertebral body fracture stabilized with percutaneous transilial pinning that were treated at our hospital between January 2000 and March 2014. Radiographic measurements were used for comparing craniocaudal and ventrodorsal displacement pre- and postoperatively. Results: Seventeen dogs met the inclusion criteria. The neurological status of the majority of treated dogs improved quickly, with immediate pain reduction after surgery. Implants were well tolerated throughout the application period and were removed at a mean time of 54.4 +/- 9.2 days. One dog experienced a major complication (implant failure) and required surgical revision a week after the initial procedure. Minor complications included pin-tract inflammation, signs of back pain lasting five weeks and acute lameness after implant removal. Postoperative radiographic measurements showed shortening of the vertebral body and residual dorsoventral dislocation. Otherwise, functional recovery was good (5 of 17 dogs) to excellent (10 of 17 dogs) in the majority of the patients. Clinical relevance: The use of two percutaneous transilial pins can be considered as treatment for the management of seventh lumbar fracture-luxation in dogs. Our modified stabilization technique is relatively easy to perform; less invasive on the soft tissues; and uses implants that are versatile, modifiable, and easily removable.

The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcome of 2 surgical procedures performed to stabilze the traumatic luxation of the lumbosacral joint (LSJ) in 3 dogs thre paraplegic dogs with LSJ traumatic dislocation were included in the study. After premedication with Acepromazine at the dose of 20 µg/kg and Morphine at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg IM, anesthesia was induced by Propofol (4 mg/kg IV) and maintained with Isoflurane in 10% O2. Case 1: a 30 kg female mixbred, was treated with external skeletal fixation (ESF) utilzing 2 transilal pins, externaly locked with 2 clamps. Case 2 and 3: males of 15 and 30 kg respectively, were treating performing lumbosacral fixation utilzing 6 pins. Two pins were inserted, acros articular proces L7/S1, into the body of the sacrum; two pins were inserted into the L6 and L7 pedicle and body respectively. Al pins were cut and bent to achieve maximum overlap. Cerclage wire and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was aplied to bond fre ends of pins Case 1: the ESF was removed 50 days after surgery although it has become lose 30 days before. By 7 months there was a marked improvement and the dog was able to walk and run with a slight neurological deficit. Case 2: the dog was able to stand and walk within 48 h after surgery. 90 days after surgery the dog stil had mild urinary and faecal incontinence. Case 3: the dog was able to stand and walk 24 h after surgery without presenting neurological alterations To the authors??? knowledge, diferent techniques have ben described to stabilze fracture or fracture/luxation of L7: nevertheles single traumatic LSJ dislocation and its treatment are not widely described in dogs1. In our experience the ESF is able to stabilze L7 fractures because the bone healing via calus formation neded a shorter time, while the healing via fibrosis requested for L7 luxation lasted longer. On the other hand ESF shows several advantages, including limited disection of soft tisues, adjustabilty after aplication and removal after repair. The stabilzation technique with pins and PMMA provides a relatively rigid construct to reduction of L7 luxation and have several advantages such as excelent strength and stabilty, minimal ned of postoperative care and short recovery time. Disadvantages can include soft tisues disection, relatively long time of surgery with higher risk of infections that we controled by using strict aseptic technique and antibiotic administration. In our experience the stabilzation with pin and PMMA shows beter clinical outcome with a short recovery time and mild complications, while ESF sems to not stabilze completely a LSJ luxation because of the early implant losening and the high risk of infections

The objective of this paper was to describe the clinical features, the management and the outcome of nine small breed dogs affected with lateral patella luxation referred during the period between January 2010 and December 2014. Patellar luxations were classified according to: breed, age, sex, weight, and grade of patellar luxation, as well as if unilateral or bilateral, and concurrent cranial cruciate ligament lesion. In affected dogs, surgical correction consisted in the combination of tibial tuberosity transposition and soft tissue procedure. Adjunctive condroplasty or trochleoplasty was performed as needing. The outcome was found positive after surgical management with low complication rate and complications have been easily managed with high success rate.Keywords: Dog, Lateral, Luxation, Patellar.

Congenital limb deformities are very rare conditions and the knowledge about etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment is still poor. Moreover, many defects are still not reported in veterinary literature. This report documents clinical and radiographic findings in three dogs with congenital deformity involving the distal extremities. Case 1 was affected with bilateral aphalangia of the pedes, case 2 presented a combination of brachydactyly and syndactyly, whereas in case 3 a unilateral ectrodactyly was observed. To the authors’ knowledge, brachydactyly, as well as aphalangia, are very uncommon anomalies and have been rarely documented. Moreover, association between syndactyly and brachydactyly has still not been reported.Keywords: Aphalangia, Brachydactyly, Congenital deformity, Dog, Syndactyly.

Patellar luxation is a common orthopedic problem in dogs. Medial luxation is more common than lateral luxation and is usually diagnosed in dogs of small breed. Diagnosis is based on clinical evidence of patellar instability; however, diagnostic imaging is required to assess the amount of skeletal deformity and then the most appropriate method of treatment. Surgical options include both soft tissue and osseous techniques, however, in most of the cases, a combination of more procedures is used to achieve the correction of the luxation. Complication rate is generally low and the most common complications include reluxation and implant-associated complications. Prognosis is generally favorable, with most of the dogs returning to normal limb function. This article describes patellar luxation features in dogs, including clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options available.

SummaryCase description: A three-year-old cat was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Naples, Italy. The cat had severe pelvic limb deformity, and abnormal development of all four paws.Clinical findings: Radiographs revealed bilateral tibial agenesis, syndactyly, and digital hypoplasia.Treatment and outcome: No treatment was instituted because of the severity of the injury, the adaptation of the cat to the abnormal condition, and the owner's refusal to permit any treatment.Clinical relevance: Congenital limb deformities are rarely reported in the cat and tibial agenesis is considered a very rare disease. This congenital anomaly is well documented and classified in man, and it has been associated with other abnormalities in more complex syndromes. This paper reports clinical and radiographic findings in a cat affected by bilateral complete tibial agenesis associated with other congenital anomalies.