We propose standardized definitions and criteria for documenting subjective results for clinical orthopedic studies in veterinary medicine. To our knowledge, no common terminology or basis for describing results in this manner has been published. This lack of standardization limits our abilities to communicate study results in a consistent manner, interpret data appropriately, and compare results across studies, centers, and techniques. An initial step toward addressing these deficiencies is to provide clear definitions and criteria for time frames of data collection, subjective outcomes, and complications. These definitions and criteria are recommended for use based on consensus among the authors who have experience and expertise in small animal and equine orthopedic clinical research. Our hope is that this terminology will be implemented so that data collection and reporting are more consistent and effective in veterinary orthopedic reports. BACKGROUND

Surgical technique can influence limb function after surgery. Labrador Retrievers treated via LSS, ICS, or TPLO for repair for of RCCL and medial meniscal injury managed with partial or complete meniscectomy infrequently achieve normal function. Results of LSS and TPLO are similar and superior to ICS.

Objective-To report clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic findings in dogs with thoracic limb lameness attributed solely to disease of the medial aspect of the coronoid process (MCP). Study Design-Case series. Animals-Dogs (n ¼ 263) with MCP disease (MCD; 437 elbows). Methods-Clinical records (January 2000-July 2006) and radiographs were reviewed and pertinent data recorded. Radiographic interpretation included measures of periarticular osteophytosis, gross assessment of MCP integrity, and measurement of ulnar subtrochlear sclerosis (STS). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate associations between data; confidence interval was set at 95%. Results-Labrador Retrievers were 50.2% of all dogs with MCD. Mean age at diagnosis was 32 months and duration of lameness was 14.5 weeks. Thirteen elbows (3%) were considered radiographically normal. Osteophytosis was identified on the anconeal process (70.2%), radial head (37.3%), and lateral epicondyle (56.5%), and STS was identified in 86.7% of elbows. Median osteophytosis score was 1; mean absolute osteophytosis score was 1.7. Arthroscopic findings included: fissuring (18.3%) and fragmentation (64.1%) of the MCP and kissing lesions (49.0%) of elbows. Median-modified Outerbridge score of the MCP was 2 and the humeral condyle, 0. Weak or moderate correlations were found between osteophytosis and modified Outerbridge scores and weak correlation between modified Outerbridge scores of the MCP and medial humeral condyle. Conclusions-Wide ranges in clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic findings are recognized in dogs with MCD but correlations between such factors are generally weak. Radiographic and arthroscopic findings do not correlate with owner-reported duration of lameness. Clinical Relevance-Radiographic measures of osteophytosis are poor predictors of severity of arthroscopic pathology for MCD. r

Incubation is a strategy for initiating new funds, where multiple funds are started privately, and, at the end of an evaluation period, some are opened to the public. Consistent with incubation being used by fund families to increase performance and attract flows, funds in incubation outperform nonincubated funds by 3.5% risk-adjusted, and when they are opened to the public they attract higher flows. Postincubation, however, this outperformance disappears. This performance reversal imparts an upward bias to returns that is not removed by a fund size filter. Fund age and ticker creation date filters, however, eliminate the bias. Copyright (c) 2010 the American Finance Association.

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