Veterinary Surgery October 2025 – Ortho Part 1: Stifle Opacity & TPLO Saw Guide Precision

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we explore two orthopedic articles from the October 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery. Both pieces offer practical insights into diagnostic clarity and intraoperative precision for common stifle procedures—helping you plan better and cut cleaner.

We cover:

✅ Hoenecke et al. — A retrospective analysis of 57 stifles in dogs undergoing surgery for patellar luxation with intact CCLs. The study found 65% of stifles had increased soft tissue opacity on radiographs despite no CCL rupture, with links to body weight and OA, but not ligament failure. It challenges a core assumption in stifle interpretation.

✅ Jeong et al. — An ex vivo comparison of a 3D-printed contoured saw guide versus a conventional jig for TPLO. The saw guide cut angles 1.2° off perpendicular vs. 4.3° for jigs and reduced cortical scraping nearly eightfold—but didn’t improve final TPA, alignment, or surgical time. The real win? Increased control and reduced intraoperative risk.

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Hoenecke et al. — Increased radiographic stifle soft tissue opacity in dogs
  with patella luxation
• Jeong et al. — Evaluation of a contoured saw guide for tibial plateau
  leveling osteotomy in dogs
  📚 From the October 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction: Tibial Precision and Patellar Complexity
• 1:40 Hoenecke et al. (2025) Study: 65% Opacity with Intact CCL
• 3:52 Opacity Linked to Osteoarthritis (OA) and Body Weight
• 4:58 Simini Protect Lavage: Managing the Inflammatory Joint Environment
• 6:17 Jeong et al. (2025) Study: 70% Improvement in Initial Cut Angle
• 8:48 Safety Benefit: Eliminating Proximal Jig Pins
• 11:04 Final Thought: Potential for Long-Term Reduction in Secondary Complications