Dorsal-to-palmar branch neuroanastomosis in horses undergoing palmar digital neurectomy does not reduce neuroma formation or improve outcome.

Objective: Chronic foot pain, a common cause of forelimb lameness, can be treated by palmar digital neurectomy (PDN). Complications include neuroma formation and lameness recurrence. In humans, neuroanastomoses are performed to prevent neuroma formation.

Prospective, longitudinal assessment of subchondral bone morphology and pathology using standing, cone-beam computed tomography in fetlock joints of 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses in their first year of training.

Background: Catastrophic injuries of the fetlock joints occur in Thoroughbred racehorses and are preceded by stress-induced bone injury. Early detection of subchondral bone injury is essential to prevent irreversible damage or bone failure.

Objectives: To investigate the use of standing, robotic cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for assessing longitudinal changes in subchondral bone morphology and pathology of the fetlock joints associated with race training in young Thoroughbreds.

Identification of a previously unreported site of subchondral bone injury in the dorsodistolateral calcaneus in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Background: Increasing accessibility and advancements in computed tomographic (CT) imaging improve understanding of the contributors to poor performance in the Thoroughbred racehorse.

Objectives: To characterise an unreported site of tarsal subchondral bone injury (SBI) in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Study Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional analytical study.

Serum amyloid A and fibrinogen as markers for early detection of surgical site infection associated with internal fixation in the horse.

The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic ability of serum amyloid A (SAA) and fibrinogen for early detection of surgical site infection (SSI) after equine internal fixation. Horses undergoing internal fixation for fracture, arthrodesis, or osteotomy with internal fixation for limb deformity were included in the study. SAA and fibrinogen were measured on blood samples preoperatively and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 postoperatively.

Closure of an Aortocardiac Fistula in a Horse.

• An ACF developed in a hospitalized horse following orthopedic surgery. • Spontaneous closure of the ACF occurred 6 weeks after initial diagnosis. • Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality to confirm the presence of ACF in equids.

Computed tomographic assessment of fracture characteristics and subchondral bone injury in Thoroughbred racehorses with lateral condylar fractures and their relationship to outcome.

Objective: To investigate the effects of fracture characteristics and concurrent subchondral bone pathology identified with computed tomography (CT) on the racing performance of Thoroughbred racehorses with fractures of the MC3/MT3 lateral condyle.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Sample Population: Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 50) with a fracture of the MC3/MT3 lateral condyle, which had preoperative CT and internal fixation performed.

Computed tomographic guidance for internal fixation of type II distal phalangeal fractures in 51 horses.

Background: Type II distal phalanx (P3) fractures are a well-described cause of lameness in horses. Reports on outcome following internal fixation of type II P3 fractures are lacking, and with little emphasis on complications.

Objective: To describe a technique for internal fixation of type II P3 fractures, and evaluate whether specific variables influenced post-operative complications or a horse's ability to return to work.

The clinical and histopathologic effects of potentiated chlorhexidine in the upper respiratory tract of horses.

Objective: To describe the bactericidal and fungicidal properties of a 0.0005% chlorhexidine (CHD) solution potentiated with EDTA-Tris buffers (CHD-EDTA-Tris) and evaluate the safety of 0.0005% CHD-EDTA-Tris in the upper respiratory tract (URT) of normal horses.

Recombinant fibroblast growth factor-18 (sprifermin) enhances microfracture-induced cartilage healing.

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis is a disabling condition impacting the mostly young and active population. In the present study, we investigated the impact of intra-articular sprifermin, a recombinant truncated fibroblast growth factor 18, on the outcome of microfracture treatment, a widely used surgical technique to enhance cartilage healing at the site of injury. For this study, we created a cartilage defect and performed microfracture treatment in fetlock joints of 18 horses, treated joints with one of three doses of sprifermin (10, 30, or 100 μg) or with saline, hyaluronan, and evaluated animals functional and structural outcomes over 24 weeks.

Exploring patterns of personal alarm system use and impacts on outcomes.

Objectives: To describe the patterns of personal emergency response systems (PERS) use in a statewide cohort of older Australians.

Methods: PERS data from clients enrolled in the Personal Alarm Victoria program between January 2014 and June 2017 were analysed. Alarm activation reasons were extracted, and a medical record audit was performed for a sub-cohort of patients admitted to a local hospital following an alarm event.

A retrospective multicenter study on the use of locking compression plates for scapulohumeral arthrodesis in small equids.

Objective: To report on technical aspects and outcomes after scapulohumeral arthrodesis (SHA) with a locking compression plate (LCP) in small equids.

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter case series.

Animals: Client-owned Shetland Ponies, Miniature Shetlands, and American Miniature Horses (n = 15).

Comparative Analysis of Tenogenic Gene Expression in Tenocyte-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Response to Biochemical and Biomechanical Stimuli.

The tendon is highly prone to injury, overuse, or age-related degeneration in both humans and horses. Natural healing of injured tendon is poor, and cell-based therapeutic treatment is still a significant clinical challenge. In this study, we extensively investigated the expression of tenogenic genes in equine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and tenocyte-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (teno-iPSCs) stimulated by growth factors (TGF-3 and BMP12) combined with ectopic expression of tenogenic transcription factor MKX or cyclic uniaxial mechanical stretch.

Validation of standing cone beam computed tomography for diagnosing subchondral fetlock pathology in the Thoroughbred racehorse.

Background: Subchondral bone pathology is common in Thoroughbred racehorses and believed to precede more serious injury. Early identification of pathology is critical to allow for intervention.

Objectives: To determine interobserver variability of fetlock subchondral bone lesions using cone beam and fan beam computed tomography (CBCT, FBCT) and to validate a robotics-controlled CBCT to identify fetlock subchondral bone pathology in the Thoroughbred racehorse.

Lamellar perfusion and energy metabolism in a preferential weight bearing model.

Background: Supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is suspected to be caused by lamellar ischaemia as a consequence of increased mechanical load.

Objectives: Examine the effects of prolonged preferential weight bearing (PWB) on lamellar perfusion and metabolism.

Study Design: In vivo experiment.

Quantifying the economic benefit of the personal alarm and emergency response system in Australia: a cost analysis of the reduction in ambulance attendances.

Objectives MePACS is a triage and support-based personal alarm emergency response system designed to assist older and/or disabled people to live safely in their homes. The aim of this study was to estimate avoidable ambulance attendances and transports to emergency departments and quantify the cost savings attributed to MePACS compared with a comparison cohort without a personal alarm system. Methods Alarm activation and demographic data for clients registered in the program from June 2016 to May 2017 and funded through the Personal Alert Victoria program were extracted from routinely collected MePACS electronic data.

Standing Arthroscopic Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Sepsis in a Horse.

A 15-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was presented for investigation of fever, right temporomandibular region swelling, and progressive pain when opening the mouth. Right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sepsis was diagnosed based on synovial fluid analysis, sonographic imaging, and standing robotic cone-beam computed tomography. Concurrent otitis media and temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) were also noted.

Racing performance after surgical repair of medial condylar fracture of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone in thoroughbred racehorses.

Objective: To report the performance of thoroughbred racehorses after surgical repair of a medial condylar fracture of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Sample Population: Forty-three horses surgically treated for medial condylar fractures, 30 with previous racing experience, 13 without previous racing experience (nonexperienced).

Regulation of the tenogenic gene expression in equine tenocyte-derived induced pluripotent stem cells by mechanical loading and Mohawk.

Cell-based therapeutic strategies afford major potential advantages in the repair of injured tendons. Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) expands cell sources for "regenerative" therapy. However, its application in tendon repair is still limited and the effects remain unclear.

Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints to treat osteoarthritis in 17 horses.

Objective: To describe arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint with a locking compression plate (LCP) and a metallic tension band and report the outcome of horses treated for osteoarthritis (OA) with this technique.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: Seventeen horses with OA of the MCP or MTP joint treated with arthrodesis.

Surgical site infection associated with equine orthopedic internal fixation: 155 cases (2008-2016).

Objective: To determine the prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI) after internal fixation and to identify risk factors for SSI and nonsurvival.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: One hundred fifty-five horses with long bone fractures or arthrodesis treated by internal fixation at 1 hospital between 2008-2016.

Return to racing after surgical management of third carpal bone slab fractures in thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses.

Objective: To determine the prognosis for racing of horses surgically treated for slab fractures of the third carpal bone (C3).

Study Design: Retrospective case study.

Animals: Horses (n = 125) surgically treated for C3 slab fractures.

Pancarpal and partial carpal arthrodesis with 3 locking compression plates in 6 horses.

Objective: To report the outcome of horses after pancarpal or partial carpal arthrodesis with 3 locking compression plates (LCP).

Study Design: Case series.

Animals: Six horses ranging in age from 8 months to 16 years and weighing 227-580 kg with severe carpal pathology including acute fractures, chronic osteoarthritis, and chronic angular limb deformity.

Use of locking compression plates in ulnar fractures of 18 horses.

Objectives: To describe the outcome, clinical findings, and complications associated with the use of the locking compression plate (LCP) for various types of ulnar fractures in horses.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Sample Population: Client owned horses (n = 18).

Wnt10b and Dkk-1 gene therapy differentially influenced trabecular bone architecture, soft tissue integrity, and osteophytosis in a skeletally mature rat model of osteoarthritis.

Aims: Our goals in the current experiments were to determine if (a) upregulation of Wnt signaling would induce osteoarthritis changes in stable stifle joints and (b) if downregulation of Wnt signaling in destabilized joints would influence the progression of OA.

Methods: At 37 weeks of age, rats were injected in the stifle joint with a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector containing the Wnt-inhibitor Dkk-1 or a Wnt10b transgene. At 40 weeks of age, rats underwent surgical destabilization of the joint.