Traumatic lumbosacral joint dislocation in 3 dogs: Clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and short-term follow-up

Traumatic lumbosacral joint dislocation (TLSJD) without L7 vertebral body fracture is a rare injury in dogs. This report describes clinical presentation, therapy and outcome in 3 dogs. Three crossbreed dogs with non-ambulatory paraparesis and lumbar pain were referred. Radiographs confirmed TLSJD and dorso-ventral displacement (DVD) was measured pre and postoperatively. Case 1 was treated by percutaneous transilial pinning. Cases 2 and 3 were treated by internal fixation with pins and PMMA. Within 72h after surgery all dogs were able to stand and walk, and faecal incontinence resolved. To the author's knowledge this is the first description of a case series of TLSJD in the dog. The biomechanics of TLSJD in animals have not been investigated. It is likely that a single trauma severely hyper-extends L7-S1 causing disruption of the supra and inter-spinous ligaments with simultaneous shear and compression forces that cause ventral slipping of the sacrum. Pins and PMMA compared to percutaneous transilial pinning, provided more strength and stability. In conclusion, TLSJD requires appropriate surgical reduction and stabilization to allow fibrous healing of the L7-S1 junction, resulting in satisfactory neurological recovery

Normal ultrasonographic features of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) eyes

The Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is widely distributed in the Mediterranean Sea but, like other sea turtles, it is considered a threatened species. Improving anatomical knowledge on normal aspects of the species is important for correct diagnosis and proper therapy and, therefore, for improving the chances of a complete recovery and a fast reintroduction into the wild for a greater number of sea turtle bycatch and other mishaps. For this reason, 15 Loggerhead turtles, with clinically healthy eyes, were submitted to ocular ultrasonographic (US) examinations. The US exam was quick, non-invasive, and simple to perform and permitted researchers to assess all the ocular features. © 2020, Croatian Natural History Museum. All rights reserved

Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic lesion of the urinary bladder: A rare entity posing a diagnostic challenge and therapeutic dilemma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic lesions of the urinary bladder are relatively rare entities of an uncertain pathogenesis and benign indolent nature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present an extremely rare case of an ALK-1-positive pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic lesion of the urinary bladder, which was initially misinterpreted as a low-grade leiomyosarcoma of myxoid subtype on histologic examination owing to prominent atypia, high mitotic activity, abnormal mitotic figures and infiltration of the bladder wall. Although the histologic features were suggestive of a sarcoma, the correct diagnosis was finally established and radical surgical treatment was subsequently avoided. The patient is currently free of disease without any evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis at 3 years post-operatively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The key differentiating point rests in distinguishing the aforementioned mass forming lesion from the myxoid subtype of low-grade leiomyosarcoma in order to avoid unnecessary radical therapy.</p

Circumscribed Storiform Collagenoma Associated with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome in a Young Adolescent

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is a rare congenital neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by dysmorphic features, skeletal abnormalities, growth deficiency, and mental retardation. Circumscribed storiform collagenoma is a distinct benign fibromatous tumor that presents either as solitary tumor or in association with other syndromes. In this report, we describe a 16-year-old male with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome associated with circumscribed storiform collagenoma. To our knowledge, this association has not been previously described in the literature. © 2016 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel

An ultrasound-guided subparaneural approach to the sciatic nerve in the dog: a cadaver study

Objective: To describe the gross and microscopic anatomy of the sciatic nerve paraneural sheath and to report an ultrasound (US)-guided subparaneural approach to the sciatic nerve in dogs, comparing two different volumes of injectate. Study design: Prospective, randomized, anatomical study. Animals: A group of nine middle-sized adult Mongrel canine cadavers (18 limbs). Methods: The sciatic nerves of three pelvic limbs of two canine cadavers were identified, exposed and isolated between the greater trochanter and the popliteal fossa for gross anatomical and microscopic examination. An additional three pelvic limbs were surgically dissected on the lateral surface of the limb; the sciatic nerves were isolated, and a 26 gauge over-the-needle catheter was inserted through the paraneural sheath under direct visualization. A methylene blue solution was then slowly injected into the subparaneural compartment through the catheter under US visualization using an 8–13 MHz linear-array transducer. Subsequently, 12 pelvic limbs (six cadavers) were randomly allocated to one of two groups; using US-guided percutaneous subparaneural approach, either 0.1 or 0.05 mL kg–1of a 1:1 solution of methylene blue and 0.5% bupivacaine was injected. The spread of the dye solution and the amount of nerve staining were macroscopically scored. The stained sciatic nerves with their sheaths were then harvested for microscopic examination. Results: The paraneural sciatic nerve sheath was easily identified distinct from the nerve trunk both macroscopically and with US visualization, and microscopically. Complete staining was achieved in five of six (83.3%) sciatic nerves in each group; no difference was found in the amount of staining between the two groups. Microscopically, no signs of sciatic nerve intraneural injection were observed. Conclusions and clinical relevance: The US-guided subparaneural injection of 0.05 mL kg–1 of a dye injectate resulted in satisfactory nerve staining without evidence of sciatic nerve intraneural injection