Simini Surgery Review: Small Animal Edition

VCOT March 2026 – Ortho Part 2: THR Cup Impactors & Patient-Specific Feline Spinal Guides

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we conclude our orthopedic coverage from the March 2026 issue of Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology (VCOT) by examining how better surgical instrumentation can improve precision, consistency, and patient safety.  One study evaluates an ergonomically redesigned cup impactor for canine total hip replacement, while the second demonstrates how patient-specific 3D-printed drill guides may transform feline spinal stabilization. In this episode: ✅ Mancusi et al. — A cadaveric study comparing a prototype ergonomic acetabular cup impactor with a conventional impactor during Zurich cementless total hip replacement. Among novice surgeons, the prototype significantly improved the angle of lateral opening (ALO), reducing the mean placement from 48.9° with the standard impactor to 43.2°, much closer to the ideal 45° target. However, the improved instrument did not improve cup retroversion, reinforcing that while better tools can reduce mechanical errors, accurate interpretation of anatomic landmarks remains essential for successful THA.  ✅ Rigo et al. — Evaluated patient-specific 3D-printed drill guides for thoracolumbar pedicle screw placement in cats. Across 126 pilot holes, the guides achieved an overall 91.2% safe placement rate, including 100% accuracy within the thoracic spine. Importantly, all breaches occurred laterally, with zero medial breaches or spinal canal violations, demonstrating that patient-specific guides can substantially improve safety while allowing a less invasive dorsal surgical approach. The study also reports the first successful clinical application of this technique in a feline patient, highlighting its potential for future spinal stabilization procedures.  Together, these studies demonstrate that the future of orthopedic surgery isn't simply better implants—it's smarter instrumentation that helps surgeons consistently perform at a higher level. 🎓 Journal Articles Discussed * Mancusi et al. — Comparison between Two Zurich Cementless Total Hip Replacement Cup Impactor Types in the Accuracy of Cup Positioning: An In Vitro Study * Rigo et al. — Feasibility and Accuracy of Pedicle Screws in the Feline Thoracolumbar Spine 📚 From the March 2026 issue of VCOT 🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample? Learn More:  www.simini.com [http://www.simini.com] Request a Sample:  https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit [https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit]

VCOT March 2026 – Ortho Part 1: Feline Bandages, 3D-Printed Locking Plates & THA Cup Positioning

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we begin our orthopedic coverage from the March 2026 issue of Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology (VCOT) by examining how small technical decisions can profoundly influence orthopedic outcomes—from postoperative care to implant manufacturing and intraoperative accuracy.  This episode explores whether routine postoperative bandaging is truly beneficial in cats, how 3D-printed locking plates may reshape the future of patient-specific implants, and a novel device designed to improve acetabular cup positioning during canine total hip replacement. In this episode: ✅ Clayton et al. — A multicenter retrospective study of 152 cats undergoing clean orthopedic procedures evaluated complications associated with postoperative external coaptation. Overall, 68.4% of cats developed bandage-associated complications, and those receiving rigid splints were 3.4 times more likely to experience severe complications than cats managed with soft padded bandages alone. Cases included pressure necrosis, implant exposure, osteomyelitis, and even digit amputation. The findings suggest that when rigid internal fixation provides adequate stability, routine postoperative splinting may introduce unnecessary risk rather than additional protection.  ✅ Kang et al. — Investigated whether locking screw threads can be manufactured directly into 3D-printed titanium plates, eliminating the need for expensive post-machining. When printed in a 0° horizontal orientation, directly printed locking threads achieved push-out strength equivalent to commercially machined plates. However, vertically printed implants demonstrated significant thread defects, and insertion torque proved critical—100% of printed threads failed when tightened to 2.0 Nm, while 1.1 Nm provided reliable fixation. The study highlights how implant manufacturing parameters and surgical technique must evolve together as patient-specific implants become more common.  ✅ Karlin et al. — Evaluated the Cup Position Assessment Device (CPAD), a 3D-printed intraoperative guide designed to objectively measure acetabular cup orientation during canine total hip arthroplasty. Using embedded radiopaque crossbars and intraoperative radiographs, the device measured the angle of lateral opening (ALO) with remarkable accuracy—within approximately 1.1° of the true angle. Although version measurements remain limited by implant overlap on radiographs, the CPAD represents an important step toward objective intraoperative implant positioning and reducing postoperative luxation risk.  Together, these studies reinforce an important orthopedic principle: better outcomes often come from improving the small details that surround surgery—not just the operation itself. 🎓 Journal Articles Discussed * Clayton et al. — Incidence of Bandage-Associated Complications in Cats following Clean Orthopaedic Procedures: A Retrospective Study of 152 Cases * Kang et al. — Feasibility of Integrating Locking Plate System into Additively Manufactured Implants: A Mechanical Comparison of Three-Dimensional-Printed and Machined Locking Hole Threads * Karlin et al. — In Vitro Evaluation of a Device to Assess Acetabular Cup Position by Sagittal Plane Radiography 📚 From the March 2026 issue of VCOT 🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample? Learn More:  www.simini.com [http://www.simini.com] Request a Sample:  https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit [https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit]

VCOT January 2026 – Ortho Part 2: Elbow Orthobiologics & Rethinking DPO Plate Selection

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we continue our orthopedic coverage from the January 2026 issue of Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology (VCOT) by challenging two common assumptions surrounding timing and surgical planning.  One study investigates whether orthobiologic injections administered immediately after elbow arthroscopy actually remain inside the joint, while the second demonstrates that double pelvic osteotomy (DPO) plates consistently produce less acetabular rotation than their labeled angle, changing how surgeons should approach implant selection. In this episode: ✅ Rustemeyer et al. — A cadaveric CT study evaluating contrast retention following elbow arthroscopy. Compared with simple arthrocentesis, elbows undergoing arthroscopy demonstrated immediate postoperative extravasation, resulting in an estimated 64.3% dilution of injected fluid. The findings suggest that orthobiologics such as PRP or stem cell therapies administered immediately after arthroscopy may largely escape into the surrounding soft tissues rather than remaining intra-articular. Delaying injections until portal sealing occurs may substantially improve therapeutic delivery.  ✅ Trommelmans et al. — A CT-based retrospective study measuring the true acetabular rotation achieved during double pelvic osteotomy. Across 49 hips, every plate angle consistently underperformed its nominal correction. Thirty-degree plates produced a median correction of only 23.4°, 25° plates achieved 16.7°, and 20° plates achieved approximately 15°. The study demonstrates that surgeons should anticipate 5–8° of lost rotation due to pelvic elasticity and soft tissue tension, recommending that 7–10° be added to preoperative planning measurements when selecting implant angles.  Together, these studies emphasize that successful orthopedic surgery depends not only on technical execution, but also on understanding what happens immediately after surgery—and how living tissues respond to implanted hardware. 🎓 Journal Articles Discussed * Rustemeyer et al. — Extravasation of Intraarticular Fluid Injection Following Canine Elbow Arthroscopy: A Cadaveric Study * Trommelmans et al. — Effect of Double Pelvic Osteotomy on Dorsal Acetabular Rim Angle Using Computed Tomography in 27 Dogs 📚 From the January 2026 issue of VCOT 🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample? Learn More:  www.simini.com [http://www.simini.com] Request a Sample:  https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit [https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit]

VCOT January 2026 – Ortho Part 1: TPLO Plate Design & Patient-Specific Atlantoaxial Implants

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we kick off our orthopedic coverage from the January 2026 issue of Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology (VCOT) by exploring how implant design can influence surgical success long before the patient leaves the operating room.  One study demonstrates that subtle differences in TPLO plate geometry can dramatically affect interfragmentary compression and construct stability, while the second introduces a patient-specific 3D-printed implant that could transform the treatment of atlantoaxial instability in toy-breed dogs. In this episode: ✅ Miraldo et al. — Compared three commonly used 3.5 mm TPLO locking plate systems to determine how plate design affects interfragmentary compression across the osteotomy. Using pressure-sensitive film, the authors found that the Biocurve plate generated the highest and most uniform compression, particularly across the cranial aspect of the osteotomy, owing to its opposing dynamic compression slot orientation. In contrast, the Synthes plate produced the lowest compression, highlighting that implant geometry—not just surgical technique—plays a major role in achieving stable primary bone healing. ✅ Peres Cabrera et al. — Presented a patient-specific 3D-printed titanium implant for dorsal stabilization of atlantoaxial instability (AAI) in dogs. Designed from CT imaging and optimized using finite element analysis, the implant incorporates an integrated drill guide that directs screw placement while allowing up to 12 degrees of variable-angle adjustment. Mechanical testing demonstrated excellent rigidity, with maximum implant stress remaining well below the titanium alloy's yield strength and only 0.13 mm of displacement under supraphysiologic loading. The design eliminates the need for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), reducing the risks of thermal injury, infection, and implant-related complications.  Together, these studies reinforce a simple but powerful lesson: the smartest implant isn't always the strongest—it's the one designed to help surgeons consistently achieve the best biomechanics with the greatest precision. 🎓 Journal Articles Discussed * Miraldo et al. — Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy Plate Design Influences Interfragmentary Compression: An In Vitro Study * Peres Cabrera et al. — Development and Finite Element Analysis of a Patient-Specific Implant for Atlantoaxial Joint Stabilization via Dorsal Approach in Dogs 📚 From the January 2026 issue of VCOT 🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample? Learn More:  www.simini.com [http://www.simini.com] Request a Sample:  https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit [https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit]

VCOT November 2025 – Ortho: Cementless THR, 3D-Printed SI Guides & Tibial Tuberosity Avulsion Outcomes

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we conclude our orthopedic coverage from the November 2025 issue of Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology (VCOT) by exploring three studies that examine how precision, technology, and long-term adaptation influence orthopedic success. From a novel approach to cementless total hip replacement, to patient-specific drill guides for feline sacroiliac luxation repair, and the surprising long-term outcomes of tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures, these studies challenge conventional assumptions about fixation, healing, and postoperative function. In this episode: ✅ Arias et al. — Evaluated an undersized cementless femoral stem coated with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) as an alternative to traditional cemented total hip replacement. While dogs with undersized stems experienced slower early recovery and mild transient lameness, functional gait analysis demonstrated equivalent outcomes by four months postoperatively. The BCP coating promoted biological fixation through osteoconduction and osteoinduction, potentially reducing the risk of intraoperative femoral fissures associated with aggressive press-fit stem placement.  ✅ Scortea et al. — Compared 3D-printed drill guide technology with fluoroscopy-guided minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) for feline sacroiliac luxation repair. Patient-specific guides achieved 92.9% adequate sacral bone purchase, compared with 64.3% for traditional MIO, while dramatically reducing cortical breaches and screw malposition. Although the guides required additional planning time and an open surgical approach, the study demonstrated substantial improvements in implant accuracy and safety.  ✅ Zweig et al. — Investigated long-term outcomes following tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures (TTAF) after skeletal maturity. Surgical fixation resulted in dramatic radiographic changes, including a 15–19° reduction in tibial plateau angle and distal patellar displacement. Despite these alterations, every surgically treated dog achieved excellent functional outcomes with no lameness or instability. In contrast, one-third of conservatively managed dogs developed severe medial patellar luxation, reinforcing the importance of maintaining extensor mechanism alignment during healing.  Together, these studies remind us that orthopedic success is not always defined by perfect anatomy—but by achieving durable function through thoughtful planning and biologic adaptation. 🎓 Journal Articles Discussed * Arias et al. — Kinetic and Kinematic Gait Analyses of Dogs with Undersized Cementless Stems (Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Coated) versus Cemented in Total Hip Replacement * Scortea et al. — Comparative Analysis of 3D-Printed Drill Guides and Minimally Invasive Osteosynthesis in Feline Sacroiliac Luxation: A Cadaveric Study * Zweig et al. — Treatment Outcome and Radiographic Appearance of Healed Tibial Tuberosity Avulsion Fractures in Skeletally Mature Dogs: 21 Cases (2016–2023)  📚 From the November 2025 issue of VCOT 🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample? Learn More:  www.simini.com [http://www.simini.com] Request a Sample:  https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit [https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit]