Veterinary Surgery April 2026 – Ortho: Double Plating Mechanics & Surgical Skills Training

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we continue our orthopedic coverage from the April 2026 issue of Veterinary Surgery by focusing on two themes that shape every surgeon’s career: building stronger repairs and building stronger surgeons. From double plate fixation in complex scapular fractures to structured cadaver-based resident training, these papers explore how biomechanics and deliberate practice influence both surgical outcomes and long-term competency.In this episode:✅ Barrett et al. — An ex vivo biomechanical study evaluating single versus double plating constructs for comminuted canine scapular fractures. Adding a second plate along the caudolateral border nearly halved fracture displacement during cyclic loading (0.81 mm → 0.48 mm) and increased construct stiffness from 392.8 to 563.7 N/mm without increasing strain on the primary implant. The findings suggest that load-sharing double plating may support immediate postoperative weight bearing while potentially reducing reliance on restrictive external coaptation. ✅ Leu et al. — A prospective pilot study evaluating a three-month cadaveric orthopedic skills curriculum for small animal surgery residents and interns. Using OSATS global rating scores, the study demonstrated significant improvement in technical performance, with median expert scores increasing from 17/35 to 23/35 after training. Interestingly, trainee self-assessment showed poor agreement with expert evaluation, highlighting the importance of objective feedback and structured mentorship during surgical development. Together, these studies reinforce an important principle in orthopedic surgery: better outcomes depend not only on stronger implants, but also on stronger surgical preparation and training systems.🎓 Journal Articles DiscussedBarrett et al. — Double plate fixation improves stiffness in a comminuted canine scapula fracture gap model compared to single plate fixationLeu et al. — Structured assessment of a cadaveric orthopedic surgical training program of small animal surgeons in training: A prospective observational pilot study📚 From the April 2026 issue of Veterinary Surgery🎁 Want to learn more about Simini Protect Lavage or request a sample?Learn More: www.simini.comRequest a Sample:https://www.simini.com/evaluation-kit