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Objectives:  The main purpose of this article is to evaluate the correlation between the distraction index (DI) and Norberg angle values in distracted hips (distraction Norberg angle, DNA) at 4 months of age and the official hip score based on the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) grid at 12 months of age., Methods:  For dogs ( n  = 215) from two guide dog training organizations, the DI and DNA were measured by a single expert on distraction radiographs performed at 4 months of age. The FCI score was determined by the same expert at 12 months of age on a standard hip-extended view.Statistical analysis included receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and concordance correlation coefficient calculation., Results:  The mean DI was 0.48, the mean DNA was 86.5° and 59.5% of hips had an A FCI score. The concordance correlation coefficient of DI and DNA was 0.78. The DI threshold for D- and E-scored hips that was associated with the least misclassification was 0.58 (sensitivity [Se] = 0.6, specificity [Sp] = 0.82). The DNA threshold that was associated with the least misclassification was 85° (Se = 0.83, Sp = 0.68)., Clinical Significance:  DNA has a fair correlation with DI at 4 months and reflects hip passive laxity. D and E FCI scores at 12 months cannot be reliably predicted from the 4 months value of DI or DNA but 96% of hips with DI < 0.58 at 4 months had an A, B or C FCI score at 12 months of age. Similarly, 98% of hips with DNA > 85° at 4 months had an A, B or C FCI score at 12 months of age., Competing Interests: None., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

OBJECTIVE To assess use of a new radiographic method to determine the distance by which the tibial tuberosity should be advanced to reduce the patellar tendon-tibial plateau angle (PTA) to 90° by means of the modified Maquet technique (MMT) in dogs. SAMPLE 24 pelvic limbs from 12 adult medium-sized to large-breed canine cadavers. PROCEDURES Radiographs of stifle joints at 135° extension in true lateral position were used to determine tibial tuberosity advancement distances for use in the MMT. A method was devised to incorporate the planned osteotomy axis; distal patellar translations of 0, 3, 5, or 10 mm; and advancement cage implant application level along the osteotomy site in advancement planning measurements. Concordance correlation coefficients (CCCs) were calculated to compare these adjusted advancement measurements with true advancement measurements obtained for the same joints in another study after treatment by MMT. Intraobserver, interobserver, and total agreement for selected measurements were determined by assessment of CCCs for results obtained by 3 blinded observers. RESULTS Agreement between true advancement measurements and measurements obtained with osteotomy axis and cage position method calculations that incorporated a 5-mm distal patellar translation distance was excellent (CCC, 0.96). Intraobserver and interobserver agreements for the planning measurements evaluated were good to excellent (CCC, 0.83 to 0.96). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that the osteotomy axis and cage position method incorporating a 5-mm distal patellar translation distance has the potential to improve success rates for achieving a PTA of 90° in medium-sized to large-breed dogs undergoing MMT for treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Further research is warranted.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the validity of 2 radiographic methods for measurement of the tibial tuberosity advancement distance required to achieve a reduction in patellar tendon-tibial plateau angle (PTA) to the ideal 90° in dogs by use of the modified Maquet technique (MMT). SAMPLE 24 stifle joints harvested from 12 canine cadavers. PROCEDURES Radiographs of stifle joints placed at 135° in the true lateral position were used to measure the required tibial tuberosity advancement distance with the conventional (A M ) and correction (A E ) methods. The MMT was used to successively advance the tibial crest to A M and A E . Postoperative PTA was measured on a mediolateral radiograph for each advancement measurement method. If none of the measurements were close to 90°, the advancement distance was modified until the PTA was equal to 90° within 0.1°, and the true advancement distance (TA) was measured. Results were used to determine the optimal commercially available size of cage implant that would be used in a clinical situation. RESULTS Median A M and A E were 10.6 mm and 11.5 mm, respectively. Mean PTAs for the conventional and correction methods were 93.4° and 92.3°, respectively, and differed significantly from 90°. Median TA was 13.5 mm. The A M and A E led to the same cage size recommendations as for TA for only 1 and 4 stifle joints, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Both radiographic methods of measuring the distance required to advance the tibial tuberosity in dogs led to an under-reduction in postoperative PTA when the MMT was used. A new, more accurate radiographic method needs to be developed.

Objectives: To report a case series of thoracic bite trauma in dogs and cats and to evaluate risk factors for mortality., Methods: A retrospective study concerning thoracic bite wounds in dogs and cats was performed. Lesions were categorized by depth of penetration: no wound, superficial, deep or penetrating. Thoracic radiographic reports were reviewed. Lesion management was classified as non-surgical, wound exploration, or explorative thoracotomy., Results: Sixty-five cases were collected. Twenty-two percent of patients with normal respiratory patterns showed thoracic radiographic lesions. Respiratory distress was not correlated with mortality. Twenty-eight patients were presented with superficial wounds and 13 with deep wounds. Eight patients exhibited penetrating wounds. Radiographic lesions were observed in 77% of dogs and 100% of cats. Explorative thoracotomy was performed in 28% of patients, and surgical wound exploration in 17.2%. With the exception of skin wounds, thoracic wall discontinuity was the most frequent lesion. Thoracotomy was associated with increased length of hospitalisation but was not correlated with mortality. The mortality rate was 15.4%. No studied factor correlated with mortality, and the long-term outcomes were excellent., Clinical Significance: A penetrating injury, more than three radiographic lesions, or both together seemed to be indicative of the need for a thoracotomy. In the absence of these criteria, systematic bite wound explorative surgery is recommended, with extension to thoracotomy if thoracic body wall disruption is observed.

Objective: To evaluate the validity of the common tangent and conventional tibial plateau angle methods for measuring the patellar tendon angle (PTA) in dogs., Methods: Radiographs of cadaveric stifles (n = 20) placed at 135° in true lateral position were obtained to measure the PTA with both methods. A Kirschner wire was inserted perpendicularly to the patellar tendon at its insertion on the tibia and the stifle was dissected. Two Kirschner wires were then used to identify the anatomical landmarks of the tibial plateau. A digital image was obtained of the proximal tibia in true lateral position. Six blinded observers measured each PTA digitally while the anatomical PTA was determined by an independent blinded observer from the angle between the line representing the tibial plateau and the Kirschner wire representing the perpendicular to the patellar tendon. The agreement between the methods was determined statistically from an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)., Results: The global ICC for the common tangent method (0.44) and for the conventional method (0.4) indicated that their overall validity is poor. The measurements obtained by common tangentmethod and conventional method were respectively below and above the anatomical measurements. The reproducibility of the PTA measurements based on images of the dissected stifles was very good., Clinical Significance: Both the common tangent and conventional methods show poor concordance with the anatomical measurement of PTA. Further studies are needed to determine if errors in measurements affect the clinical outcome.

Objectives: To (i) compare agreement of the common tangent (CT) and tibial plateau angle (TP) methods in terms of measuring the patellar tendon angle (PTA) and required advancement and (ii) determine the intra- and inter-observer reliability of observers who measured PTA and the advancement., Methods: Six observers were divided into three groups based on their level of experience. They measured the PTA and the required advancement on 43 radiographic images of the tibiae of dogs affected by cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Each observer repeated the measurements three times with each method. The inter-technique (interT), intra-observer (intraO), and interobserver (interO) reliabilities were evaluated, assessed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and represented by Jones plots., Results: The agreement between PTA-CT and PTA-TP was low (the ICC interT values ranged from 0.11 to 0.4). The PTA-CT was associated with moderate intra-observer reliability (ICC intraO, CT = 0.61) and poor interobserver reliability (ICC interO, CT = 0.33). The PTA-TP was associated with good intra-observer reliability (ICC intraO, TP = 0.75) and moderate interobserver reliability (ICC interO, TP = 0.59). Interobserver reliability did not depend on the level of experience. The advancement measurements were associated with reliability results similar to those obtained for PTA. Jones' plots showed that the CT method consistently yielded lower PTA and advancement values than the TP method., Conclusion: Given its poor reliability, the CT method is not recommended.