Orthopaedics - 0900-1230, Executive 1

Locking Plate Fixation

Kenneth Johnson & Alessandro Piras

The need for implants that could be used with minimally invasive surgical technique, following the philosophy of ‘biological osteosynthesis’, was a driving force behind the development of locking plates. In addition, plates that had improved mechanics and less impact on the bone blood supply were considered to be desirable.  In concept, the Zespol external plate fixator developed in Poland in the 1980s was the same as modern locking plates, because it had screw heads that could be locked into place.  These screws were applied perpendicular to the plate, and were ‘fixed angle’.  The Zespol did not rely on friction between the plate and the bone for stability. Indeed, the plate was situated just outside the skin, similar to an external fixator.
There are currently several different types of locking plates available that may be useful for fracture fixation in small animals, including the No Contact Plate, the Locking Compression Plate (LCP), the Fixin Plate, the Advanced Locking Plate (ALPS) and the String of Pearls (SOP). 
The LCP has combination locking and compression holes, or so called ‘Combi hole’ This allows the plate to be applied with either fixed-angle locking screws in the threaded part of the Combi hole, or standard cortical screws in the dynamic compression unit part of the Combi hole.
Application of the LCP with entirely locking screws results in a fixed-angle construct.  Used it this way, there is not any compression of the plate to the bone, or between the fracture fragments.  The most important use of this device is for non-reducible shaft fractures, where the plate acts as a bridge plate.  Once the locking screws engage the plate, no further tightening of the screw is possible.  Therefore the implant locks the bone fragments in their relative positions, regardless of the degree of reduction. Accurate contouring of the plate to the bone is not essential.  Furthermore, by locking the screws to the plate, the risk of loss of reduction due to screw toggling and fracture collapse is reduced.
Since the plate can sit off the bone, and the locking of screws prevents compression of the periosteum by the underside of the plate, the blood supply to the bone may be improved.  In the case of reducible fractures, once the metaphyseal fragment has been fixed with locking screws, the fracture can be compressed using standard screws in the DCU portion of the Combi hole.

Dentistry/Imaging - 0900-1230, Hall 7

Dental radiography

Brook Niemiec

Everything you wanted to know about dental radiology but were afraid to ask, this masterclass will cover all the salient points of dental radiology in a general practice friendly manner. There is something for everyone, from novice new graduates to seasoned practitioners. This programme will begin with a discussion on indications for dental radiography. This will include recommendations on how to improve client acceptance of dental radiology. Following this will be a detailed presentation on achieving high quality dental radiographic images. Utilizing the simplified technique supported by high quality educational videos, attendees should be able to expose full mouth radiographs. Finally, we will concentrate on interpretation. In an energetic and highly interactive session, practitioners will learn how to read dental radiographic images. This will begin with a discussion on determining what teeth were imaged. We will then interpret actual clinical radiographs of classic pathology. After this presentation, attendees should be comfortable with all facets of veterinary dental radiology.

Endocrine/Feline - 1415-1745, Executive 1

Feline diabetes: case-based problem solving

Rebecka Hess & Jacquie Rand

This interactive session will allow for ample discussion and time for questions. Specific and detailed cases of cats with diabetes mellitus will be discussed, and different approaches to the same cases may be reviewed. Cases of insulin overdose, insulin underdose, use of different insulin products, management of diabetic cats with concurrent disease and some aspects of treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis will be presented.

Imaging/Medicine - 1415-1745, Hall 7

Radiological interpretation of the canine thorax - BRING YOUR LAPTOP SESSION

Robert Kirberger

This masterclass will interpret a number of thoracic case studies to illustrate basic and advanced principles of radiological interpretation of the canine thorax. At the end of the class, participants will feel more confident in making thoracic radiographs in practice as they will have a greater understanding of thoracic radiological anatomy, the effect of positioning and signalment on the radiological changes and how to interpret the radiological changes in order to make a diagnosis. The emphasis will be on non-respiratory thoracic pathology as the latter will have been covered in an interactive session the day before.