Cervical intervertebral disk disease is commonly treated surgically by ventral decompression through a ventral slot. Nine dogs with documented vertebral subluxation following surgical creation of a ventral slot are reported. The location of the subluxation was at the fourth cervical (C4) to fifth cervical (C5) intervertebral space in two dogs, C5 to sixth cervical (C6) intervertebral space in four dogs, and C6 to seventh cervical (C7) intervertebral space in three dogs. The ventral slot width to vertebral body width ratio ranged from 0.39 to 0.80, with the ratio being 0.50 or greater in seven of eight cases evaluated radiographically. Surgical reduction and stabilization were performed in seven of nine dogs.
The treatment of large skin defects of the distal limbs of dogs and cats can be difficult due to the lack of skin available for primary wound closure or the creation of local skin flaps. Distant pedicle skin flaps provide an acceptable alternative for wound closure with full thickness skin and provide a cosmetic result. Fourteen animals (10 dogs and four cats) that had distant pedicle skin flaps are reviewed. The technique allowed 100 per cent wound coverage in 10 of 14 animals and greater than 95 per cent skin flap survival occurred in 12 to 14 animals. complications associated with the procedure were most commonly wound infection and partial suture line dehiscence, however these did not detract from the final outcome. Flap release was in one or two stages, however the outcomes did not appear to be affected by the release protocol.
A four year-old intact male Dalmatian was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital at Louisiana State University for acute, non-weight-bearing left hindlimb lameness of three weeks duration. Information supplied by the referring veterinarian indicated the lameness was first diagnosed and treated seven months previously, but recurred three weeks ago. External rotation of the left stifle, mild discomfort upon stifle flexion, mild to moderate muscle atrophy and palpable joint effusion were noted during physical examination. Slight cranial drawer movement with a soft end-point was discovered during manipulation of the left stifle. A triangular bone fragment and thickened, confluent intracapsular soft tissues were observed on radiographs of the stifle. Radiographically, moderate degenerative changes suggested chronicity. This report describes the clinical and radiographic findings of a rarely reported partial avulsion of the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament in a skeletally mature dog.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.