Orthopedics

Gait Abnormality: Musculoskeletal or Neurologic Condition?
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, …

Juvenile Orthopedic Disease in Dogs & Cats, Part 2: Congenital & Neonatal Orthopedic Diseases
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…

Juvenile Orthopedic Disease in Dogs & Cats, Part 1: Musculoskeletal Development & Pediatric Bone Diseases
This article describes musculoskeletal development and provides an overview of pediatric bone diseases, including signalment, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Canine Gait Analysis
New validated objective gait analysis technologies have become available to help veterinarians quantitate characteristics of gait, which can greatly assist in the detection of a subtle lameness as well as response to various treatments.

Canine Orthopedic Devices
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.

A Practitioner’s Guide to Fracture Management, Part 3: Selection of Internal Fixation Technique
Part 3 of a 3-part series. Addressed are several different internal fixation methods. Part 1 discussed fracture biomechanics, fracture classification and diagnosis, and factors to consider when selecting a fixation technique. In Part 2, selection of fixation technique and specific techniques, identification of bone healing, and potential complications are addressed.

A Practitioner’s Guide to Fracture Management, Part 2: Selection of Fixation Technique and External Coaptation
Part 2 of a 3-part series. Addressed are selection of fixation technique and specific techniques, identification of bone healing, and potential complications will be addressed. Part 1 discusses fracture biomechanics, fracture classification and diagnosis, and factors to consider when selecting a fixation technique. Part 3 addresses several different internal fixation methods.

A Practitioner’s Guide to Fracture Management, Part 1: Diagnosing Fractures and Choosing a Fixation Technique
Part 1 of a 3-part series. Discussed are fracture biomechanics, fracture classification and diagnosis, and factors to consider when selecting a fixation technique. In Part 2, selection of fixation technique and specific techniques, identification of bone healing, and potential complications are addressed. Part 3 addresses several different internal fixation methods.

Orthopedic Follow-Up Evaluations: Identifying Complications
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 …