SummaryA prospective study was made of 17 dogs with ununited anconeal process treated by osteotomy of the proximal ulna. The effect of the surgery on lameness was evaluated subjectively and the elbows were assessed radiographically for evidence of anconeal fusion and healing of the osteotomy. Whilst clinical outcome was generally good and complications infrequent, relatively few cases achieved anconeal fusion. These results do not compare well with the results of a previous study but this disparity may be due in part to differences in patient population and radiographic evaluation.Further work is required to establish how best to achieve predictable anconeal fusion.Proximal ulnar osteotomy was used to treat 17 dogs with ununited anconeal process. Clinical results were good but anconeal fusion was not achieved consistently. Further work is needed to determine how best to achieve predictable anconeal fusion.

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An acquired arteriovenous fistula between the distal collateral radial and median arteries arising from the brachial artery, and the cephalic, brachial and median cubital veins of the right foreleg in an 8‐year‐old Afghan Hound is described. The arteriovenous fistula was apparently acquired two years previously after a perivascular injection of the anaesthetic agent thiopentone sodium in 5 per cent W/V solution* and was found as an incidental problem during an examination for an unrelated lameness problem. The arteriovenous fistula was characterized by a large pulsatile swelling that had a continuous thrill and bruit. A positive Branham sign was present. The lesion was diagnosed by physical and radiological examination. Ligation of the brachial artery has provided some post‐operative improvement in exercise tolerance.

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Introduction The use of robotics in gastrointestinal surgery is an increasingly popular area of surgical innovation. Despite uncertainty regarding clinical benefits, gastrointestinal surgery centres continue to introduce robotic services. This may be motivated by perceived benefits, in lieu of substantial empirical benefits. We aimed to summarise the expected advantages and disadvantages of robotic techniques in gastrointestinal surgery, as reported by study authors. Method A systematic review was undertaken by the trainee led RoboSurg Collaborative. Searches were conducted on of Embase, Medline, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Articles were double screened by abstract, then full text. All primary studies reporting outcomes following robotic cholecystectomy or oesophagectomy were included. Reports of expected benefits and disadvantages or robotic techniques were extracted verbatim, and summarised using descriptive statistics. Results We included 192 studies. An expected benefit was reported in 161 (84%). Of those, 127 (79%) expected robotics to have an intra-operative advantage, such as reduced operative time, improved dexterity and improved visualisation. Post-operative benefits, such as reduced recovery time and shorter length of hospital stay, were expected in 72 (45%). Expected disadvantages were reported in 96 (50%) of the included studies. Of those, 74 (77%) expected robotics to have intra-operative disadvantages such as increased operative times and lack of tactile feedback. Increased cost was another commonly expected limitation. Conclusions Study authors reported perceived benefits more frequently than disadvantages. Perceived benefits were more commonly advantageous to the surgeon rather than the patient. There were directly conflicting perceptions of how robotic techniques affect operative times.