Orthopedics

TIME-SAVING ASSESSMENT Have a veterinary nurse video record the patient’s gait with a smartphone. When an animal is presented to you with a history of lameness or a gait abnormality, you need to determine whether the problem is musculoskeletal, neurologic, or both, so you can recommend the appropriate treatment. To arrive at an appropriate diagnosis, …

Neonatal diseases are apparent at birth or within the first 3 to 4 weeks of life. While these diseases are often congenital and inherited, a direct cause for each disease has not yet been determined, and other causes, such as in utero factors, may play a role…

This article describes musculoskeletal development and provides an overview of pediatric bone diseases, including signalment, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Gait evaluation typically includes visual and/or subjective observation of the dog from a number of angles at both the walk and trot on a flat surface. To the trained eye, lameness can often be detected upon gait evaluation. However, a more subtle lameness may not be apparent on subjective gait evaluation and can be difficult to detect.

Brittany Jean Carr, DVM, CCRT, and David L. Dycus, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS (Small Animal) Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, Annapolis Junction, Maryland Orthopedic devices can be used to supplement or replace surgical treatment of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) insufficiency, shoulder injury, carpal and tarsal injury, hip luxation, and limb salvage with prosthetics. Although …

The advantages of addressing long bone fractures with internal fixation versus external coaptation include early return to function and maintenance of joint motion. Internal fixation is indicated for fractures that:
•Are subjected to compression, shearing, and/or tensile forces
•Are comminuted and/or long oblique
•Cannot be reduced appropriately (see The 50/50 Rule).
…

Meredith Kapler, DVM North Carolina State University David Dycus, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS (Small Animal) Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, Annapolis Junction, Maryland Fractures occur commonly in both dogs and cats and, therefore, are frequently seen in general practice. It is important for veterinarians to understand: Fracture biomechanics, classification, and diagnosis Selection of correct …

Meredith Kapler, DVM North Carolina State University David Dycus, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS (Small Animal) Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group, Annapolis Junction, Maryland Fractures occur commonly in both dogs and cats. While typically fractures occur after a traumatic incident, such as being hit by a car or falling from a height, some fractures occur …

Duane A. Robinson, DVM, PhD Complications can occur during the recovery period following an orthopedic procedure. The author discusses bone healing; delayed unions, nonunions, and malunions; osteomyelitis and infection; bone implant construct failures; and fracture disease in this comprehensive article. Orthopedic procedures, whether performed on an elective or urgent/emergent basis, are common in small animal …