In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we wrap up the orthopedic coverage from the March 2025 issue of VCOT with two studies that dig deep into fracture recurrence risk and the limits of plate length compromises. These insights are must-knows for surgeons weighing implant removal decisions or choosing between shorter vs. longer constructs in MIPO.

We cover:

✅ Muroi et al. — A retrospective study of 181 radial-ulnar repairs in toy breed dogs, analyzing outcomes of plate retention vs. removal. The refracture rate quadrupled from 3.5% (retained) to 12.5% (removed), with every fracture occurring at the original site, confirming implant-induced osteoporosis (IIO). Use of pixel value ratio (PVR) and screw-to-bone diameter ratio (SBDR) > 0.4 were strong predictors of failure and highlight the importance of radiographic density—not just fracture line healing—when planning implant removal

✅ Trefny et al. — A biomechanical study testing plate length vs. construct stiffness using 3.5 mm LCPs across 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-hole variants in a tibial gap model. The results? Only the 12-hole plate reached a meaningful increase in construct stiffness and reduced strain on bone and implant. Shorter constructs (even 10-hole) failed to reduce fatigue risk, emphasizing that an 80% plate-to-bone ratio is the biomechanical threshold surgeons should aim for

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Muroi et al. — A Retrospective Study of Risk Factors Associated with Refracture after Repair of Radial–Ulnar Fractures in Small-Breed Dogs
• Trefny et al. — Effect of Plate Length on Construct Stiffness and Strain in a Synthetic Short-Fragment Fracture Gap Model Stabilized with a 3.5-mm Locking Compression Plate

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In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we wrap up orthopedic highlights from the March 2025 issue of VCOT, focusing on implant design, joint coverage, and surgical habits that don’t always hold up under pressure. From hips to plates, this episode delivers biomechanical insights you can apply immediately in the OR.

We cover:

✅ Huels et al. — A clinical follow-up of 30 canine total hip arthroplasties using a second-generation selective laser melted screw cup (SCSL). The implant showed a cup complication rate of just 3.3%, and no late aseptic loosening at a 17.5-month median follow-up. Most failures occurred on the femoral side, indicating the new porous trabecular cup design may finally solve long-term cup fixation

✅ Lomas et al. — A CT-based study showing that double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) improved mean dorsal lateral subluxation (DLS) scores from 36.1% to 71.4%—effectively shifting dysplastic hips from high-risk to low-risk OA territory. The biggest correction came with 30° plates, reinforcing the value of pre-op CT templating to optimize surgical planning

✅ Lu et al. — A mechanical study testing whether leaving bending tees in empty SOP nodes improves strength. While medial-lateral bending stiffness increased by a statistically significant 2.08 N/mm, the authors concluded the clinical benefit was negligible. Leaving tees in is a habit, not a proven technique, and doesn’t meaningfully increase construct stiffness

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Huels et al. —Complications and Long-Term Outcome in 30 Canine Total Hip Arthroplasties Using a Second-Generation Selective Laser Melted Screw Cup
• Lomas et al. — The Impact of Double Pelvic Osteotomy on Dorsolateral Subluxation in 24 Dogs
• Lu et al. — Comparison of Bending Stiffness between String of Pearls Plate-Bone Substitute Constructs with and without Bending Tees in a Fracture Gap Model

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In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we bring you two impactful studies from the January 2025 issue of VCOT, spanning both orthopedic decision-making and emergency soft tissue triage. One study helps you decide how many screws are really worth it in a femoral neck fracture. The other gives you a scoring system that could redefine how we manage high-rise syndrome in cats.

We cover:

✅ Calderon et al. — A biomechanical cadaver study comparing two vs. three titanium cannulated screw constructs for basal femoral neck fractures in dogs. Three screws delivered a 51.7% strength increase, significantly improving fixation yield (586 N vs. 303 N), while stiffness stayed relatively unchanged. But added strength came with increased technical demand and higher cortical perforation risk—especially in dogs with narrow femoral necks

Small Animal VCOT 2025 January ….

✅ Ínal et al. — A retrospective study of 373 cats with high-rise syndrome (HRS) evaluating survival predictors. Fall height, surface type, and visible injuries were not predictive. Only the Animal Trauma Triage Score (ATTS) strongly predicted mortality. Cats with an ATTS ≥7 had a 61.9% mortality rate, and most deaths were due to thoracic or vertebral injury, not fractures. This shifts focus to early ATTS scoring and aggressive spine/chest imaging regardless of the fall story

Small Animal VCOT 2025 January ….

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Calderon et al. — In Vitro Biomechanical Study of Femoral Neck Fracture Fixation with Two or Three Cannulated Screws in Dogs
• Ínal et al. — Survival Rate of High-Rise Syndrome Cases Using Animal Trauma Triage Score in Cats
  📚 From the January 2025 issue of VCOT

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