Namsoo Kim

Thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the most common cause of spinal injury in dogs. MRI has been considered the gold standard for neurologic diagnosis, but studies focusing on the thoracolumbar spinal canal and spinal cord using MRI in small-breed dogs are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to establish an MRI reference range for the spinal cord and canal measurements (height, width, cord-to-canal ratio of height, width, cross-sectional area (CSA)) of each intervertebral disc level from T11 to L5 (total of seven levels) on transverse T2-weighted images in normal small-breed dogs. We hypothesized that the spinal cord and spinal canal measurements might vary according to the body weight and age. The width and height of the spinal cord and canal increased as the body weight increased at all levels (p < 0.05). The cord-to-canal ratio of the width showed a negative correlation to the body weight at all levels. The cord-to-canal ratio of the height did not show any correlation to the body weight at all levels. All measurements (height, width, cord-to-canal ratio of height, width, CSA) did not show any statistical correlation between the groups subdivided by age. These measurements could serve as a morphometric baseline for thoracolumbar spinal diseases and clinical research in small-breed dogs.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical application of three-dimensional (3D)-printed custom reduction guides (3DRG) for minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) of short oblique radial diaphyseal fractures. Canine forelimb specimens (n = 24) were prepared and a diaphyseal short oblique fracture was simulated in the distal radius and ulna. Bone fragments were stabilized with the MIPO technique using a 3DRG (Group A), open reduction (Group B), or closed reduction with circular external skeletal fixation (ESF) (Group C). The diaphyseal short oblique fractures were created in each radius at one-third of the radial length from the distal radial articular surface. Surgical stabilization of the fractures was performed in each group. Pre and postoperative radiographic images were obtained to measure frontal angulation (FA), sagittal angulation (SA), frontal joint reference line angulation (fJRLA), sagittal joint reference line angulation (sJRLA), translational malalignment and fracture gap width. Surgical time was also measured. In the homogeneity test, differences in SA, sJRLA, craniocaudal translation and fracture gap before and after surgery had no significant difference among the three groups. On the other hand, differences in FA, fJRLA, mediolateral translation and surgical time before and after surgery had significant differences among the three groups. In the post hoc test, only surgical time showed a significant difference between the three groups, and group A showed the shortest surgical time. The use of 3DRG for MIPO of short oblique radial diaphyseal fractures in dogs is reliable for the alignment and apposition of fractures and reduces surgical time.

Whole blood viscosity, a hemorheological factor, is currently used for diagnosis, as it is correlated with various vascular diseases that are difficult to diagnose early with a general blood test. It was determined that it was necessary to set reference intervals for further studies and utilization of whole blood viscosity in cats, a representative companion animal, and this study was conducted. Fifty healthy cats were recruited for the study, and whole blood viscosity, complete blood count, and serum chemistry tests were performed. The reference intervals of whole blood viscosity were 15.169 to 43.684 cP at a shear rate of 1 s−1 reflecting diastole, and 3.524 to 5.544 cP at a shear rate of 300 s−1 reflecting systole. Red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and neutrophils in the complete blood count, and total protein, albumin, globulin, and cholesterol in the serum chemistry were significantly correlated with whole blood viscosity. The results of this study set the reference intervals of whole blood viscosity for healthy cats in a wide shear rate range that has not yet been fully established, and its correlation with other blood indicators investigated.