Objectives The objective of this study was to quantify the changes in the diameter of the vertebral canal in the lumbosacral and sacrococcygeal column (L6-Co2) in cats in dorsal and ventral recumbency, simulating real body positioning during a perineal urethrostomy. Methods Twenty-one male feline cadavers were enrolled in the study. All feline cadavers were evaluated by CT. Examinations were performed with the cadaver in a neutral position and dorsal and ventral recumbency. Sagittal vertebral canal diameters (VCDs) were obtained by measuring the distance between the ventral and dorsal aspects of the vertebral canal in the middle of the intervertebral space. Results A comparison of the VCDs between L6 and L7, L7 and S1, S3 and Co1 and Co1 and Co2 in neutral position vs dorsal recumbency revealed a reduction of 0.27 mm (14.6%; P <0.001) between S3 and Co1 and 0.26 mm (18.1%; P <0.001) between Co1 and Co2. No differences were seen when comparing L6-L7 and L7-S1. The VCDs were decreased in all segments when comparing neutral with ventral recumbency. This study revealed a reduction of 0.13 mm between L6 and L7 (3.3%; P = 0.003), 0.14 mm between L7 and S1 (4.1%; P = 0.003), 0.61 mm between S3 and Co1 (32.5%; P <0.001) and 0.63 mm between Co1 and Co2 (44.1%; P <0.001). Comparison of the VCD between dorsal and ventral recumbency in L6-L7, L7-S1, S3-Co1 and Co1-Co2 revealed a decrease in the VCDs in ventral recumbency of 0.13 mm (3.3%; P <0.001), 0.12 mm (3.6%; P <0.001), 0.34 mm (21.0%; P <0.001) and 0.37 mm (31.7%; P <0.001), respectively. Conclusions and relevance The results provide evidence that, from an anatomical point of view, perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal recumbency is superior to ventral recumbency, but further clinical studies to verify these findings are necessary.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate and quantify the changes in neurological status in cats after perineal urethrostomy performed in dorsal and ventral recumbency. Methods This was a prospective, randomised study. Twenty male castrated cats with feline lower urinary tract disease presented for perineal urethrostomy were enrolled in this study. Surgery was performed in either dorsal recumbency (group A) or ventral recumbency (group B). Motor response of patellar tendon, gastrocnemius muscle, pelvic limb withdrawal and perineal reflexes, as well as the presence of spinal pain in the lumbosacral region, motor function of the tail and faecal continence, were examined before surgery, and 24 h and 14 days after surgery. Results The animals had a mean weight of 5.07 ± 1.08 kg, with a mean age of 6.12 ± 1.85 years. Weight and age were not significantly different between groups A and B (both P = 0.897). All tested parameters of the neurological examination performed prior to surgery were considered normal in both groups ( P = 1). The comparison between neurological examinations (perineal reflex and spinal pain) before and 24 h after surgery revealed a significantly decreased briskness of the perineal reflex and an increased occurrence of spinal pain 24 h after surgery ( P = 0.043 and P = 0.031, respectively). However, the changes of aforementioned parameters were statistically insignificant ( P = 0.249 and P = 0.141) between groups A and B. The other parameters (patellar tendon, pelvic limb withdrawal and gastrocnemius muscle reflexes, motor function of the tail and faecal continence) were statistically insignificant ( P = 1) before surgery and 24 h after surgery, as well as between groups A and B 24 h after surgery. Results of all tested parameters were statistically insignificant ( P = 1) before surgery and 14 days after surgery, as well as between groups A and B 14 days after surgery. Conclusions and relevance The briskness of the perineal reflex was significantly decreased and the occurrence of spinal pain significantly increased 24 h after surgery. A parallel with a low-grade positioning-dependent nerve injury as described in human medicine may be drawn. However, no positioning method was proven to be superior to the other.

Concomitant cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is a common complication in small breed dogs with patellar luxation (PL) with an elusive pathogenesis. Surgical treatment is available and commonly includes remodelling osteotomies. While these modern techniques have shown good functional results, access is limited due to the high costs for owners and the need for special surgical equipment. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the frequency and risk factors for concomitant CCLR in small breed dogs with PL. To study the outcome and complications of the combination of the Wedge recession osteotomy (WR) and Tibial tuberosity transposition (TT) with a Fascia over-the-top (OT) or a Capsular and fascial imbrication technique (CFI) for the simultaneous treatment of PL and concomitant CCLR. A retrospective study is presented here. The signalment, body weight, luxation grade and direction, affected side, bilateral or unilateral PL, CCLR and meniscal status were analysed. The surgical treatment for PL and concomitant CCLR, outcome and complications were investigated. Of 233 small breed dogs with PL, 52 (22.31%) had a concomitant CCLR. Maltese dogs were more likely to have concomitant CCLR. The mean age for the dogs with PL only was 5.32 years, which was significantly younger than the mean age of dogs with PL and concomitant CCLR (7.39 years). Overweight dogs with PL were prone to develop concomitant CCLR. Surgical stabilisation with a combination of WR, TT and OT or CFI had excellent or good results in 86.63% of the cases, while 16.67% of the cases developed complications. In conclusion, PL and concomitant CCL ruptures can be managed successfully by performing a combination of WR, TT and OT or CFI. The outcomes and complication rates are comparable to remodelling osteotomies. Moreover, these techniques are less expensive and can be performed with standard surgical equipment. These findings should be beneficial for clinical diagnosis, client education and treatment.

A 1-yr-old female Congo African grey parrot ( Psittacus erithacus erithacus) was admitted with a lameness of the right pelvic limb. On the radiographs a closed, caudolaterally displaced, comminuted, diaphyseal fracture of the femur was diagnosed. Surgery under general anesthesia was performed in order to repair the fracture with a paracortical-clamp-cerclage technique. This straightforward and effective technique has been developed as a low-cost treatment for simple and comminuted diaphyseal fractures in dogs and cats. Fixation is obtained with clamps, shaped during surgery, and attached to the bone shaft with cerclage wire. This technique led to immediate weight-bearing, appropriate bone healing, and permanent fixation of the implants in the patient. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this case represents the first report of a surgical repair of a femoral fracture with a paracortical-clamp-cerclage technique in a bird.

Ultrasonography, a non-invasive and useful technique, is used for the examination of Atlanto-occipital space structural visualization. The collection of cerebrospinal fluid is more accurate and easier under ultrasound-guided procedure. In this study, longitudinal and transverse views of the Atlanto-occipital space were scanned and their different structural dimensions were measured in sixty healthy Beetal goats. In longitudinal plane, gap between skin and arachnoidea ranged from 8.71 to 10.21 mm (mean ± SD, 9.76 ± 0.44 mm). Depth of the subarachnoid gap dorsal and ventral to the spinal cord ranged from 2.14 to 3.23 mm (mean ± SD, 2.81 ± 0.33mm) and from 6.09 to 7.68 (mean ± SD, 7.02 ± 0.45 mm) respectively. Spinal cord diameter varied from 3.76 to 5.26 mm (mean ± SD, 4.57 ± 0.44 mm) and entire dural sac diameter varied from 12.59 to 15.69 mm (mean ± SD, 14.37 ± 0.74 mm). The spinal cord can be seen only in longitudinal plane over a distance of 1.81 to 2.93 mm (mean ± SD, 2.46 ± 0.35 mm). While in the transverse plane, gap between the skin and arachnoidea ranged from 11.01 to 13.11 mm (mean ± SD, 12.39 ± 0.54 mm). Depth of the subarachnoid space dorsal and ventral to spinal cord varied from 5.05 to 6.13 mm (mean ± SD, 5.59 ± 0.34 mm) and 4.12 to 5.25 (mean ± SD, 4.65 ± 0.29 mm) respectively. Spinal cord diameter ranged from 4.45 to 5.90 mm (mean ± SD, 5.24 ± 0.44 mm) and entire dural sac diameter varied from 14.68 to 16.96 mm (mean ± SD, 15.58 ± 0.57 mm). These standard measurements will be the reference values in healthy Beetal goats. Cerebrospinal fluid was colourless with the quantity of 2-4 ml (mean ± SD, 3 ± 0.89 ml). It was neither turbid nor coagulate. The white blood cell count was 10/µl and red blood cells were not present. Furthermore, total protein and glucose were also measured, which ranged from 23.5 to 28 mg/dl (mean ± SD, 25.78 ± 2.32 mg/dl) and 38-50 mg/dl (mean ± SD, 43.33 ± 4.60 mg/dl) respectively. Ziehl-Neelsen Staining and gram staining were negative.