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The objective was to review surgical techniques and postoperative complications of surgical correction for patellar luxation (PL) in cats. A retrospective study evaluating 85 surgeries in 71 cats was performed. The records from four referral centres were searched for cats with surgical management of PL. Signalment, history, PL grade and direction, corrective surgical techniques and outcome were retrieved. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to interrogate relationships between case features, surgical correction methods and outcomes. The outcomes were classified as minor and major complications (requiring revision surgery), including continued PL (reluxation). Postoperative complications occurred in 26% of cases; 20% had major complications, including 5% patellar reluxation, and 6% had minor complications. Cats with previous ipsilateral femoral fracture were significantly more likely to suffer complications, including minor (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 12.67), major (P = 0.03, OR = 7.2) and patellar reluxation (P = 0.01, OR = 19.25). Minor complications were significantly more likely with grade 4 PL (P = 0.03, OR = 8.5). Major complications were significantly more likely with tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT; P = 0.03, OR = 5.57). Patellar reluxation was significantly more likely if stifle surgery had been performed previously (P = 0.05, OR = 8.00). The presence of bilateral PL, hip dysplasia, grade 1, 2 or 3 PL, corrective surgery using an anti-rotational suture or femoral sulcoplasty did not influence complications. Complications were more likely for grade 4 PL, previous ipsilateral femoral fracture, if TTT was performed and for cases with previous stifle surgery. This information allows consideration of risks and complicating factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the techniques and the equipment neccesary for arthroscopy in the field of veterinary medicine.. It states that arthroscopy is becoming a high standard for the diagnosis and treatment of many intra-articular conditions in small animals. It compares the effectiveness of arthroscopy and other surgical procedures when it comes to speed, costs and effectiveness.

Presents a letter to the editor discussing osteoarthritis of the elbow joint as the most common cause of thoracic limb lameness in dogs.

Objective:  The aim of this study is to describe the use of String of Pearls (SOP) plates for the surgical management of feline pelvic fractures, including surgical technique, proposed indications, complications, and outcomes in a cohort of cats., Study Design:  This study is a single-center retrospective clinical case series., Methods:  Medical records (2015-2019) of cats presenting for pelvic fractures ( n  = 33) were reviewed. Type of fracture, preoperative and postoperative imaging, and complications were retrospectively retrieved. Owners were contacted via questionnaire for medium- and long-term follow-up., Results:  A total of 20 cats met the inclusion criteria. Minor intraoperative complications were encountered in three patients. One patient suffered a major intraoperative complication. Five major complications were encountered postoperatively. These included two greater trochanter osteotomy fixation implant removal and three SOP plate removal. Full function was recovered in all patients according to the owners' assessment., Clinical Significance:  The use of SOP plates in feline pelvic fractures appears to yield a consistently good outcome with a very low incidence of canal narrowing and screw loosening. SOP plates are easy to contour and to apply along the entire pelvic length., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Objective:  The aim of this retrospective multicentre case series was to describe signalment, presenting signs and imaging findings in dogs with isolated articular fractures of the talus., Study Design:  Medical records (2008-2019) of dogs with isolated articular talar fractures were reviewed., Results:  Fourteen dogs met the inclusion criteria; affected breeds were four German Pointer (three shorthair and one wirehaired), three Labrador Retrievers, two Rottweilers, two Springer Spaniels, one cross breed, one Greyhound and one Great Münsterländer. The age range was 1 to 8 years with a median of 4.7 years. Lameness was usually acute in onset and had been present for a range of 4 to 540 days prior to referral.The most common fracture configuration involved the lateral trochlear ridge only ( n  = 9). Two of the fourteen fractures affected both trochlear ridges. Thirteen dogs were initially assessed radiographically with classic orthogonal views, but a fracture was only visible in five cases. The remainder were confirmed with further radiographic projections ( n  = 4) or computed tomography ( n  = 5). In one case, the lameness was located to the tarsus by scintigraphy., Conclusion:  Isolated articular fracture of the talus is rare and may prove a diagnostic challenge due to the varied presentations and complex anatomy of the bone. Pathology of the talus may be suspected in any case of lameness localized to the tarsus and oblique/skyline radiographic views or advanced imaging should be performed if standard radiographic views are unremarkable., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)