Surgery for horses encompasses a range of procedures performed to diagnose, treat, or manage various medical conditions. These procedures may involve soft tissue or orthopedic interventions and require specialized techniques to accommodate the unique anatomical and physiological characteristics of equines. Common surgical procedures in horses include colic surgery, fracture repair, and arthroscopy. The success of equine surgery depends on numerous factors, including the type of procedure, the horse's overall health, and post-operative care. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore surgical techniques, outcomes, and advancements in equine surgical practices.
Valdez H, Clark RG, Hanselka DV.Flexible medical grade carbon fiber was surgically implanted in tenectomized or lacerated superficial and deep digital flexor tendons of 13 horses (7 clinical cases and 6 experimental), ranging in age from 15 months to 10 years and weighing 300 to 500 kg. The 6 experimental horses were euthanatized at 30-, 45-, 60-, and 90-day intervals for gross and histologic evaluation of the results. Three of the experimental horses served as their own controls. Of the 7 clinically affected horses, 3 were euthanatized because they developed laminitis or the wound failed to heal. The remaining 4 horses in t...
Taylor NR.A case of balanoposthitis involving injury to a yearling colt's penis and prepuce is described. Details are given of the Vennerhalm or reefing operation which was used to relieve the penile prolapse and paraphimosis accompanying the condition.
Purohit RC, McCoy MD, Bergfeld WA.Lateral and frontal thermographic patterns of the head of normal horses before and after exercise were characterized to aid the diagnosis of diseases of the head. Surgical induction of Horner's syndrome was done in four horses by isolation and transection of the vagosympathetic trunk. One clinical case and the surgically induced cases of Horner's syndrome were evaluated clinically. Thermographic findings of the clinical case were similar to the experimental cases.
Barth AD, Barber SM, McKenzie NT.A two month old Thoroughbred filly was presented with signs of depression, grinding of the teeth, frothing of the mouth and abdominal pain. These signs had persisted for two weeks despite treatment with mineral oil, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, meperidine and antibiotics. A variety of diagnostic tests were done, the only abnormal finding was a stress leukon. On exploratory laparotomy the stomach was dilated with fluid and gas and the pyloric canal was constricted. Pyloroplasty resulted in correction of the condition. The etiological possibilities are discussed. This is believed to be the fir...
Speirs VC, Christie BA, van Veenendaal JC.Rectal trauma in horses is usually iatrogenic and carries a high mortality. Partial thickness tears heal without surgical assistance. Full thickness tears require surgical repair through the anus or a ventral laparotomy or, if these are not possible because of difficulty in gaining access to the tear in its usual site at the pelvic inlet, a diverting colostomy to allow the rectum to heal is necessary. This paper describes the management of 15 cases of rectal injury, only 3 of which survived. Two of these were partial thickness tears not treated surgically and the third had a temporary divertin...
Scott EA, Sandler GA.Blood flow (milliliter/minute) was measured in the medial palmar artery of 12 horses, using electromagnetic flow equipment. Extraluminal flow probes were surgically placed around the artery and base-line blood flows were recorded during surgical manipulation. After horses had recovered from anesthesia, blood flows were recorded each day for 11 days. According to mean average blood flows, horses were allotted to two groups: group 1--those with predominately normal flow characteristics, and group 2--those horses with predominately abnormal flow features. Average daily mean blood flows in the med...
Grier RL, Brewer WG, Paul SR, Theilen GH.Forty-five ocular squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in 17 cattle and 8 horses were treated by radiofrequency hyperthermia, resulting in 80% complete regression and 16% partial regression. Tumors were histologically diagnosed as SCC; 50% of the tumors were recurrent, having been treated previously by surgery, cryosurgery, radiation, or immunotherapy. After hyperthermic treatment, most animals were available for tumor measurement at 4 to 6 weeks and at 8 to 16 weeks, with a final observation period of 2 to 10 months for all. Complete regression occurred in 8 of 12 tumors given a second hyperthermic...
Slone DE, Vaughan JT, Garrett PD, Vaden MF, Purohit RC.The vascular anatomy of the adrenal glands and a surgical technique for bilateral adrenalectomy in the equid are described. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed in six ponies and one horse via bilateral transcostal retroperitoneal approaches through the 18th rib during a single anesthetic period. Complications included hemorrhage from the right side only and pneumothorax which usually occurred on the right side. One pony died as a result of the surgical technique. Maintenance of adrenal function was accomplished with desoxycorticosterone pivilate and prednisolone.
Waugh SL, Campbell KB, Klavano PA, Grant BD.A surgical thoracotomy and implantation of an electromagnetic flow probe around the ascending aorta and catheters in the left ventricular (LV) apex of the horse were evaluated. Sixteen operations were done: 4 horses were used for acute experiments, 4 horses died from surgical manipulation, and 8 horses were studied chronically for 18 to 57 days. The electromagnetic flow probe allowed continuous measurement of stroke volume and heart rate. The LV apical catheters, in conjunction with thermal dilution techniques and pressure-sensitive devices, allowed measurement and calculation of mean arterial...
Breukink HJ, Németh F, van Dieten JS.The clinical examination, anaesthesia and surgery in a gelding with an incarcerated scrotal hernia are described. The results of examination of the blood at regular intervals are shown in a table. Surgery was performed without enterectomy. The postoperation course was uneventful. It is concluded that the possibility of scrotal hernia should be borne in mind, even in geldings with colic. The incarcerated portion of the small intestine is usually found to be the jejuno-ileal junction. The anaesthesiological and surgical features of equine scrotal hernia are discussed.
Goodship AE, Brown PN, Yeats JJ, Jenkins DH, Silver IA.The results of an assessment of carbon fibre for biological use are given, with particular reference to the clinical use of the material in the treatment of equine tendon injury. Biocompatability of the fibres is assessed using fibroblast cell cultures and replacement of normal tendon with carbon fibre prostheses in experimental animals. The rationale and technique for using this material in clinical cases of tendon injury in the racehorse are described. Results are given from 62 implant operations in a limited series of 40 horses.
Murch KM.Clinical findings, surgical repair and postsurgical care of a unilateral fracture of the mandible of a bull and of a bilateral mandibular fracture in a horse are described. Compression plating limited the pain suffered by the animals and resulted in a quick return to function of the mandibles.
Engelking LR, Gronwall R, Anwer MS.The effects of IV bile acid infusion (at approx 20% of normal excretion rate) on the biliary excretion of 3-alpha-hydroxy bile acids and bilirubin were investigated in ponies prepared surgically with chronic external biliary fistulas. Endogenous bile acid excretion (approx 45 mumol/min) decreased to the hepatic synthesis rate (approx 1.5 mumol/min) during the initial 4 to 5 hours of bile drainage. In type 1 studies, both chenodeoxycholic and taurocholic acid infusion (8 to 9 mumol/min) increased bilirubin excretion by 58% to 82% following 5 hours of biliary diversion. During type 2 studies, 3-...
Huber MJ, Grisel GR.An 18-month-old 450-kg [990-lb] sexually intact male Holsteiner was evaluated for lameness of the left forelimb of 3-months' duration. We were unable to localize the site of lameness, using intra-articular and perineural anesthesia, and radiography of the shoulder and cubital joint (elbow) did not reveal radiographic abnormalities. Nuclear scintigraphy was performed. An increase in radio-isotope uptake was evident at the lateral epicondyle of the left humerus. Radiographs of the region 3 weeks later revealed a 1.5-cm focal lucency surrounded by a 1.0-cm rim of necrotic bone. The lesion was con...
Hammock PD, Freeman DE, Magid JH, Foreman JH.A 12-year old 573-kg (1,261-lb) Quarter Horse gelding was referred with colic of 12 hours' duration and with poor response to medical treatment. On the basis of physical and laboratory findings, a pelvic flexure impaction was suspected. The horse was treated medically. Because signs of mild abdominal pain persisted and the heart rate had increased, an exploratory celiotomy was performed 30 hours after signs of colic were first noticed. At surgery, the ileum was found partially entrapped within the epiploic foramen, in a left-to-right direction, to form a parietal hernia. The entrapped intestin...
Raidal SL, Wright JD.Records of 220 thoroughbred horses presented to the Randwick Equine Centre or the University of Queensland Veterinary Teaching Hospital for surgical management of carpal injury were reviewed. Details of racing performance were obtained, enabling evaluation of racing success following surgery. Age and sex matched control horses not known to have suffered carpal injury were selected from the Australian Stud Book and the Australian Racehorse Register. Control and treated populations were compared in terms of overall career racing success. Radiographs or xeroradiographs from 198 horses were availa...
Stewart SG, Johnston JK, Parente EJ.An 8-year-old multiparous Thoroughbred broodmare was admitted for evaluation of a rectal tear sustained during parturition. Results: On initial evaluation, the mare had mild signs of abdominal discomfort. A full-thickness rectal tear located 30 cm cranial to the anus and extending approximately 15 cm longitudinally along the surface of the small colon between the 4 and 6 o'clock positions, when viewed from behind, was diagnosed on examination per rectum. Results: Laparoscopic evaluation of the abdomen was performed to assess the tear and extent of peritoneal contamination. A hand-assisted repa...
Gerdemann R, Deegen E, Kietzmann M, Venner M.In the present study the significance of eicosanoids in the development of shock in horses on the basis of ileus has been investigated using the prostanoids thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) as indicators. The prostanoid synthesis inhibitor flunixin meglumine was to be examined regarding its efficacy in the effective blockade of the synthesis of these mediators within the peri-operative timeframe as well as its effects on clinical signs and laboratory parameters. 21 horses suffering from ileus and ready for surgical intervention received an intravenous flunixin dosis of 1.1 mg...
Wagner-Mann CC, Hankes G, Purohit RC, Harrison I, Pablo L, Boudreaux MK, Boosinger TR, Conti J.This study evaluated the pony as a potentially suitable model for vascular implant research. Healthy, conditioned ponies were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group I, carotid artery autografts (n = 6); group II, e-PTFE carotid interpositional grafts (n = 5); and group III, e-PTFE carotid interpositional grafts plus aspirin (10 mg/kg) and dipyridamole (3.5 mg/kg) drug administration. It was found that autografts remained patent longest (mean = 396.2 days; grafts were still patent at time of writing) followed by group III grafts (157.5 days), with group II grafts remaining patent for t...
Sullivan KE, Snyder JR, Madigan JE, Pascoe JR, Farver TB, Thurmond MC, Andresen JW.Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a glycoprotein that regulates the proliferation and maturation of hematopoietic progenitor cells and modulates the function of mature neutrophils. The responses to administration of G-CSF alone, and in combination with antimicrobials, were studied in an equine model of ascending colon ischemia. Complete segmental colonic ischemia (3.75 hours) with pelvic flexure enterotomy was created in four treatment groups. Group 1 horses received recombinant canine G-CSF (10 micrograms/kg, every 24 hours, intramuscularly), gentamicin sulfate (2.2 mg/kg, ever...
Tudor RA, Bowman KF, Redding WR, Tomlinson JE.A 9-year-old gelding was evaluated because of a 30-day history of mild intermittent left forelimb lameness. The only detectable abnormality was mild atrophy of the musculature of the proximal portion of the left forelimb. The cause of the lameness could not be determined. The horse was discharged from the hospital, but was reexamined 6 weeks later because of worsening of the lameness. At that time, the horse resisted flexion and extension of the left shoulder joint, and results of evaluation of an ultrasound-guided aspirate of fluid from the intertubercular bursa were suggestive of infection. ...
Averay K, van Galen G, Ward M, Verwilghen D.Equine small intestinal resection and anastomosis is a procedure where optimizing speed, without compromising integrity, is advantageous. There are a range of different needle holders available, but little is published on the impact surgical instrumentation has on surgical technique in veterinary medicine. The objectives of this study were to investigate if the needle holder type influences the anastomosis construction time, the anastomosis bursting pressure and whether the bursting pressure is influenced by the anastomosis construction time. Single layer end-to-end jejunojejunal anastomoses w...
Hanson RR, Nixon AJ, Calderwood-Mays M, Gronwall R.In an attempt to determine the best method for surgical removal of devitalized small colon lesions, 12 horses underwent a double small colon resection and end-to-end anastomosis. In 4 horses (study 1), an appositional single-layer (APP-1) suture pattern was compared with an inverting 2-layer (INV-2) suture pattern. In 8 horses (study 2), an appositional 2-layer (APP-2) suture pattern was compared with the INV-2 suture technique. Polydioxanone suture (size 1-0), was used. Horses were evaluated at necropsy 3, 10, 14, 28, or 56 days after surgery. Postoperative complications (peritonitis, impacti...
Rosser J, Brounts S, Slone D, Lynch T, Livesey M, Hughes F, Clark C.Our objective was to compare survival and complication rates of horses undergoing pelvic flexure enterotomy closure with a TA-90 stapler to those with hand-sewn closure. Medical records of horses undergoing pelvic flexure enterotomy between 2001 and 2008 were reviewed. History, clinical signs, surgical findings, surgical techniques, and post-operative complications were recorded. Long-term outcome was established by telephone questionnaire. Of 84 pelvic flexure enterotomies performed, 70 were stapled and 14 were hand-sewn. Seventy-seven horses survived to discharge (91.7%). There were no signi...
Colbourne CM, Rosenstein DS, Steficek BA, Yovich JV, Stick JA.A progressive ethmoidal hematoma (PEH) was treated successfully in a 4-week-old Belgian filly by surgical removal, using a frontonasal bone flap. The filly had respiratory stridor, epistaxis, and facial enlargement over the left paranasal sinuses, which had progressively increased in size since birth. Computed tomographic images of the head obtained with the foal under general anesthesia were useful in determining the extent and nature of the soft-tissue mass and planning surgical intervention. On the basis of the histologic appearance of the mass, a diagnosis of PEH was made. Twelve months af...
Watt BC, Foerner JJ, Haines GR.To describe incomplete oblique sagittal dorsal cortical fractures of the equine third metacarpal bone, their surgical repair, and subsequent performance of the horses. Methods: Retrospective examination of medical records and racing performance. Methods: Six Thoroughbred race horses, 2 to 4 years of age. Methods: Radiographic confirmation of all fractures preceded general anesthesia and surgical correction. Three fractures were treated by intracortical compression using screws placed in lag fashion, and five fractures were treated by osteostixis. Race records were reviewed for each horse to de...
Boorman S, Richardson DW, Hogan PM, Stefanovski D, Levine DG.To report the performance of thoroughbred racehorses after surgical repair of a medial condylar fracture of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Forty-three horses surgically treated for medial condylar fractures, 30 with previous racing experience, 13 without previous racing experience (nonexperienced). Methods: Medical records (2009-2017) were reviewed for signalment, radiographic fracture characteristics, repair technique, and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Each experienced horse was matched with two horses randomly selected from its mo...
Ellis PM.An accurate modified auscultatory technique for the indirect measurement of arterial pressure in the horse is described. Limitations of the method were sensitivity to external motion in nervous, conscious horses, and the failure to detect Korotkoff sounds in shocked, anaesthetized surgical cases. The apparatus required for the method is expensive and is probably impractical for routine monitoring during anaesthesia.
Suarez-Fuentes DG, Caston SS, Tatarniuk DM, Kersh KD, Ferrero NR.Contaminated or septic navicular bursitis has been reported to have a guarded prognosis after surgical treatment with navicular bursotomy only. In our experience, the use of navicular bursotomy for the treatment of this disease in combination with systemic and local delivery of antimicrobials can provide a good prognosis, even in horses with chronic disease. Objective: To report the outcome of horses undergoing navicular bursotomy for the treatment of contaminated or septic navicular bursitis. Methods: Descriptive case series. Methods: Navicular bursotomy was performed in combination with syst...
Vermedal H, Strand E.To report dynamic laryngeal collapse (DLC) associated with poll flexion as a potential complication of the laryngeal tie-forward procedure (LTFP) in harness racehorses. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Three harness racehorses. Methods: Preoperative and postoperative medical records of all harness racehorses that underwent the LTFP were reviewed, as were high-speed treadmill videoendoscopy recordings of 35 horses that returned for upper airway evaluation postoperatively. Results: One standardbred and two Norwegian coldblooded trotters in which dorsal displacement of the soft palate had bee...
Martin GS, Strand E, Kearney MT.To determine the relationship between prediction errors of a regression model of racing finish times and earnings or finish position; the relationship between standardized finish times, determined by use of this model, and earnings or finish position; and whether this model was valid when applied to data for horses that underwent surgical treatment. Methods: Survey. Methods: Records of 6,700 healthy Thoroughbreds racing in Louisiana and of 31 Thoroughbreds with idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia that underwent surgical treatment. Methods: Predicted and standardized finish times were calculat...
Barber SM, Panizzi L, Lang HM.To evaluate arthrodesis as a treatment for carpometacarpal joint osteoarthritis (CMC-OA). Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=12) with CMC-OA. Methods: Arthrodesis was facilitated by insertion and fanning of a drill bit into the CMC joint at several (3-5) locations in 15 limbs. Follow-up radiographs were obtained for 7 horses (9 limbs). Outcome was determined by telephone survey of owners based on postoperative pain, return to use, appearance of the limb, and success of treatment. Results: Postoperative pain was slight or moderate in 10 of 12 (83%) horses during the first 30 days, and 11 ...
Stephen J, Harty M, Hollis A, Yeomans J, Corley K.An 11-year-old mare presented 36 hours after foaling with a ruptured bladder. Uroperitoneum was diagnosed on ultrasound and from the creatinine concentration of the peritoneal fluid. Bladder endoscopy demonstrated tissue necrosis and a rent in the dorsocranial aspect of the bladder. Following stabilisation, including abdominal drainage and lavage, the mare was taken to standing surgery. Under continuous sedation and epidural anaesthesia, and after surgical preparation, a Balfour retractor was placed in the vagina. Using sterile lubricant and moderate force, it was possible to insert a hand int...
Rapisarda G, Marino F, Ferrara G, Gioffrè F, Galofaro V.Here we present a case of preputial benign fibrous histiocytoma in a 7-year-old mule. This case was treated surgically. Pathologic analysis and diagnosis of these lesions were based on a combination of light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Histologically, the tumour was composed primarily of a storiform pattern of fibroblastic and poligonal cells. In immunohistochemistry, except for consistent immunoreactivity for vimentin, nearly all tumour cells were positive for CD68, S-100 protein, pan-cytokeratin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and desmin. Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the prepuce in mu...
Dória RGS, Freitas SH, Laskoski LM, Arruda LP, Shimano AC.Surgical site infection of abdominal incisions is an important complication after laparotomy with increased risk of incisional hernia formation in horses. This study aims to evaluate the healing process of abdominal incisions and correlate peritonitis with the occurrence of surgical site infection and incisional hernias. Nine horses underwent standardized laparotomy, intestinal exploration, and induced septic peritonitis. Standardized relaparotomy was performed two (n = 3), four (n = 3), and six (n = 3) months later to evaluate the abdominal cavity for adhesions and to collect the sutured v...
Ternisien T, Dunn M, Vachon C, Manguin E, Bonilla AG, Jean D.Three client-owned horses diagnosed with obstructive ureteral stones were referred and treated in a minimally invasive manner by retrograde ureteroscopy in conjunction with electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) or laser Holmium:YAG lithotripsy (HYL). For all 3 horses, additional tests revealed variable degrees of azotemia and ureteral obstruction. Ultrasound examination (2 horses) revealed a loss of cortico-medullary distinction consistent with a chronic nephropathy. Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the right kidney in 1 horse revealed moderate glomerulosclerosis and lymphoplasmacytic nephritis. A sta...
Grulke S, Salciccia A, Arévalo Rodríguez JM, Sandersen C, Caudron I, Serteyn D, de la Rebière de Pouyade G.Epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) of small intestine is a severe cause of strangulating small intestinal obstruction (SSI) with long-term survival seeming lower than for other causes of SSI in horses. Different techniques via laparoscopy or laparotomy for epiploic foramen (EF) closure have been developed. This study describes a technique of peroperative mesh closure of the EF in clinical cases and their long-term follow up. In the study period of 5.5 years, 36 horses were admitted to the clinic with EFE. Of these, 17 horses had peroperative mesh closure, with resection anastomosis in 4 cases a...
Giusto G, Iotti B, Sammartano F, Valazza A, Gandini M.The aim of this study is to compare handsewn and stapled jejunocecal anastomosis with different stomal lengths in terms of anatomical differences. Group 1 underwent a two-layer handsewn jejunocecal side-to-side anastomosis (HS); Group 2 received a stapled jejunocecal side-to-side anastomosis (GIA). Each group was divided into two subgroups (HS80 and HS100, GIA80 and GIA100). Specimens were inflated and CT scanned. The stomal/jejunal area ratio and blind end pouch volume/area were measured and compared. Effective length of the stoma was measured and compared with the initial length. Stomal/jeju...
Ponthier J, de la Rebière G, Salciccia A, Deleuze S.In mares, endometrial cysts are associated with endometriosis and can cause maternal recognition failure or compromise and delay pregnancy diagnoses. Historical treatments were invasive and had adverse effects on the endometrium. Hysteroscopically guided laser therapy is easy and effective for endometrial cysts resection, with no deleterious effects for the endometrium. A 110 cm long and 1.0 cm wide endoscope is sterilely introduced in the uterus through the open cervix of an estrous mare after vulvar cleaning. The uterus is slowly infused with less than 1 L of physiologic solution and the las...
Wise IK, Klöppel H, Leece EA.Ketamine-based total intravenous anaesthesia techniques are commonly used in equine practice for ponies requiring short procedures such as castration in field conditions. When a longer duration of recumbency than provided by the initial dose of anaesthetic agents is required, administration of supplementary 'top-up' doses of anaesthetic agents is required. Ideally, a single dose of anaesthetic agents would reliably achieve a longer duration of action whilst maintaining adequate anaesthetic, surgical and recovery qualities. Objective: This prospective, randomised and blinded study aimed to comp...
Vermedal H, O'Leary JM, Fjordbakk CT, McAloon CG, Løkslett H, Stadsnes B, Fretheim-Kelly ZL, Strand E.The laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) procedure is commonly used to treat intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP). There is a wide range in reported efficacy of treating horses with and without a definitive diagnosis of iDDSP. Objective: To evaluate the racing performance of harness racehorses in which iDDSP had been definitely diagnosed and treated solely with the LTF procedure. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Ninety-five harness racehorses were treated with LTF for confirmed iDDSP. A definite diagnosis of iDDSP was made with high-speed treadmill or overground endos...
Kay AT, Hunt RJ, Rodgerson DH, Spirito MA, Santschi EM, Payne RJ.To describe the characteristics of osteomyelitis lesions of the patella and to report short- and long-term outcome after treatment in 8 foals. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Foals (n = 8). Methods: Medical records (2003-2007) and radiographs of foals that had osteomyelitis of the patella were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included clinical, radiographic, and surgical findings consistent with osteomyelitis of the patella, and a long-term follow-up of >15 months. Information acquired included signalment, hematologic and serum biochemical profile results, clinical and radiographic si...
Nixon AJ, Krook LP, Roth JE, King JM.A pulsed carbon dioxide laser was used to vaporize articular cartilage in four horses, and perforate the cartilage and subchondral bone in four horses. Both intercarpal joints were examined arthroscopically and either a 1 cm cartilage crater or a series of holes was created in the third carpal bone of one joint. The contralateral carpus served as a control. After euthanasia at week 8, the treated and control joints were examined for gross changes, and samples of cartilage and subchondral bone, synovial membrane, and peripheral lymph nodes were examined histologically. Depletion of cartilage ma...
