A 5 mo old female Akita and a 1 yr, 5 mo old male German shorthaired pointer were both evaluated for soft-tissue lesions characterized by rapidly expanding edema, erythema, and pain. Ultrasound was utilized to locate and sample fluid accumulations, and β-hemolytic Streptococcus was isolated from the wounds. Development of systemic symptoms including fever, tachycardia, and tachypnea as well as a lack of response to medical management prompted surgical intervention in both cases. During surgical exploration and debridement, disruption of intermuscular tissue planes was appreciated and necrotizing fasciitis (NF) was suspected. Negative-pressure wound therapy systems utilizing 120 mm Hg of continual negative pressure were applied to wounds for 5 and 4 days for the Akita and German shorthaired pointer, respectively. Resolution of infection was achieved and although the lesions were associated with limbs, amputation was avoided. In both cases, the results of histopathology were consistent with NF. NF is recognized as a rapidly progressive infection associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Timely use of negative-pressure wound therapy appears to be a viable management tool to accompany surgical debridement, appropriate antibiotics, and analgesics.

The sciatic nerve was surgically transected in 6 dogs. The resulting dysfunction and the positive effects of a transfer of the tendon of the vastus lateralis muscle to the long digital extensor muscle were evaluated, alone and in combination with a talocrural arthrodesis. Two dogs that received both arthrodesis and tendon transfer showed the greatest improvement in gait. HE USE O F tendon transfers for the treatment of

A case of a traumatic sciatic nerve paralysis was successfully treated with the transfer of the long digital extensor tendon of origin to the vastus lateralis muscle after a portion of the latter had been separated from its insertion on the patella. A second procedure was necessary to shorten the distal tendon of the long digital extensor muscle to create the proper tension needed to fully extend the digits. Within 11 weeks after surgery the dog was successfully returned to training and field trial competition. Viability of the transfer was further demonstrated by electrical stimulation of the vastus lateralis one year later. AMAGE to the radial or sciatic nerves is a fairly

Objective To evaluate the magnitude and direction of radial torsion (RT) in dogs with medial compartment disease (MCD). Study design Case‐control study. Sample population Twenty‐eight healthy dogs and 28 dogs with confirmed MCD. Methods Computed tomography images of each dog's antebrachium were evaluated. Radial torsion was measured by using previously described landmarks on the proximal and distal radius. Differences between groups were tested with Student's t tests and Wilcoxon rank‐sum tests. Results Healthy dogs had a mean RT angle of 3.44° (range, 1.28°‐5.44°). Dogs with MCD had a mean RT angle of 11.84° (range, 2.31°‐26.55°). Both groups included similar proportions of dogs with external (76% vs 77%) and internal (24% vs 23%) torsion. The direction of torsion (P = .21 and P = .69) did not appear to affect the magnitude of the RT angle. Conclusion Dogs with MCD had an increased RT angle compared with healthy controls. The direction of torsion varied similarly between groups regardless of the disease status of dogs in this study. Clinical significance The fourfold increase in the RT seen in dogs with MCD may contribute to the rotational overload proposed recently, potentially modifying the orientation of the elliptical radial head and the ligaments crossing the elbow joint.

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