As a result of many traumatic factors such as traffic accidents, falls from height, gunshot wounds and animal fights with each other, orthopedic and soft tissue damage, especially fractures, occur in the musculoskeletal system. Among the fractures within these lesions, the incidence of hind limb long bone fractures is higher than other bones. While the incidence of femur fractures among other fractures in cats is 20-26%, tibia fractures constitute a significant proportion of approximately 20% of other fractures. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the distribution, etiology, treatment, and treatment results of fractures in cats with hind limb bone fractures (n=92). In addition to the use of intramedullary nails and plates, external fixators are also used for the treatment of hind limb bone fractures. Despite the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, most of the time no problems are observed during the application of these techniques and in the postoperative period. A functional recovery was observed in all cats at postoperative follow-up. As a result, it can be said that the method to be used in hind limb bone fractures in cats varies according to the surgeon's preference, experience, and existing orthopedic material inventory. However, anatomical locking plates have the advantages of not using postoperative bandages and allowing the limb to be used early.

The aim of this study was to present 6 dogs and 2 cats treated with handmade external fixator. The animals included in the study had 3 cases of non-union, 1 case of luxation, and 4 cases of fracture. All the cases were successfully treated with a handmade external fixator which was made from an endotracheal tube and epoxy. There were no complications developed except for light leakage in the pin site in one case. All of the animals had started to use their extremities in the early postoperative period, except for one case. As the fixator provided the opportunity for weight-bearing, increasing stability in the fracture line in the early postoperative period, this provided some beneficial effects on healing. The external fixator made using an endotracheal tube and epoxy can be selected as an inexpensive treatment method for cats and dogs.

In the present study, it was aimed to apply minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) in the treatment of diaphyseal tibia fractures in cats and to evaluate recovery and complications postoperatively. Minimally invasive fracture repair preserves the blood supply of fragments and periosteal tissues which help to result faster healing, less morbidity, and rapid recovery of limb function. The study was conducted on 12 cats with diaphyseal tibia fracture. After closed reduction of the fractures of the cats included in the study, two small incisions were made from the proximal and distal tibia to expose the bone tissue. Plate placement was performed percutaneously through these insicion areas. The plate was fixed with two screws from the proximal and distal incision line and the fixation of the fracture line was ensured. Soft bandage was applied for 5 days postoperatively and animals caged to restrict movements for 3 weeks. X-rays were taken at regular intervals postoperatively and fracture healing was evaluated. In the controls, it was seen that the animals started to use their legs after the bandage was removed. There were no complications related to the very small operation wound and bone tissue. Healing times were determined as 35 days on average. As a result, it was determined that earlier healing was performed and less complication rate compared to open operational techniques.

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of boric acid on serum biochemical, tibia morphometry and mineralization of Japanese quail fed diets supplemented with boric acid at different levels of 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 ppm were prepared in a 5 x 3 design. A total of 150 day-old Japanese quail chicks were individually weighed and allotted randomly into five treatment groups with three replicates containing ten birds each, the birds were fed with experimental diets for a period of 5 weeks. At the end of the 5th week, two birds per replicate an average of six birds per treatment were slaughtered. Blood and tibia were collected accordingly. Serum calcium level significantly (p<0.05) increased but serum phosphorus, serum alkaline phosphatase, tibia morphometry and mineralization were not influenced by dietary boric acid supplementation. Results indicated that dietary boric acid level can be further increased in the quail diet for optimum bone mineralization.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of an excessive tibial plateau angle (TPA) and change in compressive load on tensile forces experienced by the cranial cruciate, medial collateral, and lateral collateral ligaments (CCL, MCL, and LCL, respectively) of canine stifle joints. SAMPLE 16 cadaveric stifle joints from 16 orthopedically normal Beagles. PROCEDURES Stifle joints were categorized into unchanged (mean TPA, 30.4°) and excessive (mean TPA before and after modification, 31.2° and 41.1°, respectively) TPA groups. The excessive TPA group underwent a TPA-increasing procedure (curvilinear osteotomy of the proximal aspect of the tibia) to achieve the desired TPA. A robotic system was used to apply a 30- and 60-N compressive load to specimens. The craniomedial band of the CCL, caudolateral band of the CCL, MCL, and LCL were sequentially transected; load application was repeated after each transection. Orthogonal force components were measured in situ. Forces on ligaments were calculated after repeated output force measurements as the contribution of each component was eliminated. RESULTS Increasing the compressive load increased tensile forces on the craniomedial and caudolateral bands of the CCL, but not on the MCL or LCL, in specimens of both groups. At the 60-N load, tensile force on the craniomedial band, but not other ligaments, was greater for the excessive TPA group than for the unchanged TPA group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that stress on the CCL may increase when the compressive load increases. The TPA-increasing procedure resulted in increased tensile force on the CCL at a 60-N compressive load without affecting forces on the MCL or LCL.

OBJECTIVE To determine values of F-wave parameters for the tibial nerve in clinically normal Miniature Dachshunds and those with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH). ANIMALS 53 Miniature Dachshunds (10 clinically normal and 43 with various clinical grades of thoracolumbar IVDH). PROCEDURES F-waves were elicited in the interosseous muscles of 1 hind limb in each dog by stimulation of the tibial nerve. F-wave parameters were measured for 32 stimuli/dog, and mean values were calculated. Linear regression was performed to assess correlations between F-wave parameters and clinical severity of IVDH. RESULTS For clinically normal dogs, mean ± SD values of shortest F-wave latency, mean F-wave conduction velocity, mean F-wave duration, and ratio of the mean F-wave amplitude to M response amplitude were 8.6 ± 0.6 milliseconds, 83.7 ± 6.1 m/s, 6.6 ± 1.5 milliseconds, and 9.8 ± 8.5%, respectively. F-wave persistence was 100%. Mean F-wave duration was positively correlated with clinical grade of IVDH. Linear regression yielded the following regression equation: F-wave duration (milliseconds) = 6.0 + 2.7 × IVDH grade. One dog with grade 2 IVDH had a mean F-wave duration shorter than that of all 5 dogs with grade 1 IVDH; 1 dog with grade 3 IVDH had a longer duration than that of all 10 dogs with grade 4 IVDH. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Mean F-wave duration was correlated with the severity of inhibitory motor tract dysfunction in the spinal cord of dogs. F-wave examination may be useful for objective functional evaluation of upper motor neurons in the spinal cord.

In this case report, treatment of the proximal tibial fracture of a calf with a linear external fixator (orthofix) system was presented. Oblique fracture was diagnosed proximal to left tibia regarding the clinical and radiological findings. Following the routine preparatory steps for the operation, the extremity was suspended and the fracture was reduced with orthofix from the lateral side of the tibia under general anesthesia. After the operation, it was observed that the calf could functionally use the related extremity from the first day. The consolidation was completed on the 41st day, and the fixator was removed on 47th day. In conclusion, it was considered that the proximal tibial fractures of calves could be successfully treated with a linear external fixator.

OBJECTIVE To use high-field and low-field MRI to describe the anatomy of the proximal portion of the tarsal region (proximal tarsal region) of nonlame horses. SAMPLE 25 cadaveric equine tarsi. PROCEDURES The proximal portion of 1 tarsus from each of 25 nonlame horses with no history of tarsal lameness underwent high-field (1.5-T) and low-field (0.27-T) MRI. Resulting images were used to subjectively describe the anatomy of that region and obtain measurements of the collateral ligaments of the tarsocrural joint. RESULTS Long and short components of the lateral and medial collateral ligaments of the tarsocrural joint were identified. Various bundles of the short collateral ligaments were difficult to delineate on low-field images. Ligaments typically had low signal intensity in all sequences; however, multiple areas of increased signal intensity were identified at specific locations in most tarsi. This signal intensity was attributed to focal magic angle effect associated with orientation of collagen fibers within the ligaments at those locations. Subchondral bone of the distal aspect of the tibia was uniform in thickness, whereas that of the medial trochlear ridge of the talus was generally thicker than that of the lateral trochlear ridge. In most tarsi, subchondral bone of the talocalcaneal joint decreased in thickness from proximal to distal. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results generated in this study can be used as a reference for interpretation of MRI images of the proximal tarsal region in horses.

OBJECTIVE To assess the repeatability and accuracy of polymer replicas of small, medium, and large long bones of small animals fabricated by use of 2 low-end and 2 high-end 3-D printers. SAMPLE Polymer replicas of a cat femur, dog radius, and dog tibia were fabricated in triplicate by use of each of four 3-D printing methods. PROCEDURES 3-D renderings of the 3 bones reconstructed from CT images were prepared, and length, width of the proximal aspect, and width of the distal aspect of each CT image were measured in triplicate. Polymer replicas were fabricated by use of a high-end system that relied on jetting of curable liquid photopolymer, a high-end system that relied on polymer extrusion, a triple-nozzle polymer extrusion low-end system, and a dual-nozzle polymer extrusion low-end system. Polymer replicas were scanned by use of a laser-based coordinate measurement machine. Length, width of the proximal aspect, and width of the distal aspect of the scans of replicas were measured and compared with measurements for the 3-D renderings. RESULTS 129 measurements were collected for 34 replicas (fabrication of 1 large long-bone replica was unsuccessful on each of the 2 low-end printers). Replicas were highly repeatable for all 3-D printers. The 3-D printers overestimated dimensions of large replicas by approximately 1%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Low-end and high-end 3-D printers fabricated CT-derived replicas of bones of small animals with high repeatability. Replicas were slightly larger than the original bones.

OBJECTIVE To determine accuracy for a technique of needle redirection at a single craniolateral site for injection of 3 compartments of the equine stifle joint, describe the external needle position, and identify the location of the needle tip within each joint compartment. SAMPLE 24 equine cadaver stifle joints. PROCEDURES Stifle joints were placed in a customized stand. After the needle was placed, external needle position was measured and recorded. Each joint compartment (medial and lateral compartments of the femorotibial joint and the femoropatellar joint) was injected with a solution containing iodinated contrast medium, water, and dye. Radiography, assessment of intra-articular location of the needle tip, and gross dissection were performed to determine success of entering each joint compartment. Student t tests and an ANOVA were used to compare mean values. RESULTS Overall accuracy was 19 of 24 (79.1%), and accuracy for individual joint compartments was at least 21 of 24 (87.5%). Mean depth of needle insertion to access each compartment of the stifle joint was 5.71 cm. Mean angle of insertion (relative to the long axis of the tibia) was 82.1°, 80.3°, and 18.5° for the medial compartment of the femorotibial joint, lateral compartment of the femorotibial joint, and femoropatellar joint, respectively, and 28° medial, 7.3° lateral, and 1.3° lateral for the medial compartment of the femorotibial joint, lateral compartment of the femorotibial joint, and femoropatellar joint, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results supported that this was an accurate technique for successful injection of the 3 equine stifle joint compartments.