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.
Zedler S, Jukic C, van Eps A, Stefanovski D, Genton M, Rossignol F.To compare the biomechanical properties of a three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium plate and spacer (3DM) and a 4.5 mm broad locking compression plate (LCP) for intervertebral fusion of C4-C5 in the horse. Methods: Ex vivo experimental study. Methods: Twenty-four equine cadaveric cervical spines. Methods: Twenty-four cadaver equine cervical spines were randomly assigned to ventral intervertebral fusion with either 3DM (n = 12) or LCP (n = 12) at C4-C5. Four-point bending tests were performed in flexion (3DM n = 6, LCP n = 6) and extension (3DM n = 6, LCP n = 6) in a sin...
Ralletti MV, Meistro F, Tarasconi MA, Mandrioli L, Renzi A, Rinnovati R, Spadari A.Extraskeletal chondromas (ESCs) are rare benign tumours composed of mature cartilage that typically develop in soft tissues. Their occurrence in horses is extremely uncommon and, to the authors' knowledge, no previous cases of lingual ESCs in equines have been reported. This report describes a two-year-old Quarter Horse colt presented with progressive dysphagia. Clinical examination revealed a solitary, multilobulated, firm-elastic mass located at the dorsal aboral portion (base) of the tongue. Diagnostic imaging ruled out bone involvement. The mass was surgically excised under general anaesth...
Lopes A, Aitkin E, Louro LF.Post-anaesthetic colic (PAC) is a complication in horses undergoing general anaesthesia (GA). Various preoperative feeding strategies are used in equine practice, yet their impact on PAC remains unclear. Objective: To identify perioperative risk factors associated with PAC and evaluate the influence of preoperative fasting on PAC prevalence and faecal output. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Medical records of horses undergoing non-abdominal surgery under GA were reviewed. Horses were categorised into fasted and non-fasted groups based on their pre-anaesthetic feeding regimen. Mul...
Freeman DE, Smith B, Bauck AG, Denagamage T, Moyer EK, Chanutin S.To develop a modified stapled (MS) jejunocecostomy (JC) in healthy horses. Methods: In vivo experimental study. Methods: Six healthy adult horses underwent ventral midline celiotomy, a jejunal resection, and an MS. Methods: Time to complete anastomosis and anastomotic length at necropsy were recorded. Horses were assessed by physical examination every 6 h for 5 days after surgery, then once daily until euthanasia at 7 days. A group of seven horses that had a stapled side-to-side JC and were euthanized 28 days postoperatively was used as an historical control (SS). Results: All MS horse...
Melly V, Ortved KF, Stewart HL, Stefanovski D, Richardson DW, Bubeck KA, Hogan PM, García-López JM.To present fracture cases selected for plate fixation (PF), describe surgical techniques and assess their association with postoperative complications and return-to-work outcomes in horses undergoing PF for small metacarpal/metatarsal (SMCT) fractures. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study. Methods: A total of 27 horses. Methods: Horses treated with PF of a SMCT fracture between 2008 and 2023 across three hospitals were included. Medical records and imaging were reviewed. Long-term outcomes were established by readmission to the hospital, telephone interviews, and/or race records. Univariab...
Gillen A, Hassel D, Gonzalez SW, Savage V, Mudge M, Wood A, Barnes H, Bauck A, Freeman D, Dembek K, Gonzalez LM, Archer DC.Strangulating lipoma obstruction (SLO) is the most common cause of equine small intestinal strangulation and is fatal without surgery. Currently, epidemiological information is primarily limited to signalment-related risk factors and requires further investigation. Objective: To identify horse-level risk factors for SLO and/or abdominal lipoma(s) (LP) formation in horses with acute colic that underwent surgery or post-mortem examination at participating equine clinics. Methods: Prospective, international, multicentre, epidemiological study. Methods: An epidemiological study was conducted over ...
Velarde PS, Cummings KJ, LaPointe C, Perkins GA.To assess the use of systemic antimicrobial agents in equine patients and identify areas where their use could be reduced. Unassigned: A retrospective study evaluating the electronic medical records for all equine visits in which systemic antimicrobials were given at a veterinary teaching hospital for 1 year (2021). Negative binomial regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with antimicrobial prescription rate. Unassigned: Systemic antimicrobials were prescribed for 33.5% (543 of 1,622) of equine visits. For most visits (89.1%), ≤ 3 antimicrobials were given. The antimicro...
Jeong S, Bond S, Bayly W, Sole-Guitart A.To quantify the impact of experimentally induced dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse (NPC) on respiratory performance parameters and assess the efficacy of laser fenestration of the dorsal pharyngeal recess as a treatment option for experimentally induced NPC. Methods: Experimental interventional study. Methods: Six adult Standardbreds (one with naturally occurring disease). Methods: After an 8 week conditioning program, baseline parameters (V̇Omax, pharyngeal pressure, peak airflows, upper airway resistance) and dynamic endoscopy videos were collected in a high-speed treadmill test (T1). Dorsal N...
du Preez S, Lynch B, Lindsay S, Simon O, Ferlini Agne G.To describe the case details of an equine corneal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising from the central scar of a previous conjunctival pedicle graft. Methods: An 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding, showing a progressive increase in diameter, depth, opacity, and pigmentation of a conjunctival pedicle graft scar of the left eye, 34 months after surgery. Methods: Complete ophthalmic examination, standard histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation of an incisional biopsy to formulate a definitive diagnosis. Carbon dioxide (CO) laser photoablation combined with topical mitomycin C treatment. R...
Nocera I, Moroni R, Fanelli D, Rota A, Di Franco C, Ungari C, Puccinelli C, Gandini M, Giusto G, Vannozzi I.Over the years, various diagnostic and surgical techniques have been developed to recognise and treat cryptorchidism in equid. This study retrospectively analysed cases of cryptorchidism referred to two centres between 2012 and 2025. Clinical data collected included species, breed, age, gender, location of retained testis, diagnostic approach, anaesthesia plan and surgical treatment, perioperative medical treatment, intra-operative complications and outcomes. A total of 37 clinical cases were included, 1/37 was a donkey and 1/37 was an intersex female. Most of the horses were three years old a...
Marcatili M, Kalinovskiy A, Christoph L.To describe the additional information provided by computed tomography (CT) in planning and assisting repair of comminuted fractures of the middle phalanx (MP) in Warmblood horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Six adult Warmblood horses. Methods: The case records of horses undergoing CT examination prior to internal fixation of comminuted MP fractures were reviewed. All horses underwent radiographic and preoperative CT examination. A standardized fast protocol (SFP) to assess CT images was used. Surgical repair consisted of fracture repair and proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis using...
Memarian P, Basso G, Rigo M, Falomo ME, Isola M.Patellar luxation is a rare orthopedic condition in horses, with congenital lateral patellar luxation being the most frequently reported form. A few sporadic reports have described surgical options for addressing equine patellar luxation. This report details the clinical presentation of a 2-month-old Italian Trotter foal diagnosed with bilateral lateral patellar luxation. Staged surgical correction of both stifles was performed, including block recession trochleoplasty combined with the application of polypropylene mesh for reinforcing medial imbrication sutures. Intra- and post-operative eval...
Ostendarp C, Barton AK.Intraocular neoplasia in horses is rare and only few case reports and small case series exist. Intraocular neoplasia has various clinical signs and includes important differential diagnoses in ocular disease. This narrative review of the current literature aims to provide a clinically relevant overview and classification of intraocular tumors in horses and adds a comparative oncological perspective concerning diagnosis, treatment and future considerations. The available clinical and imaging examination techniques allow for a reliable and differentiated investigation of the tumor, even in the s...
Gernhardt J, Böttcher P, Eule JC, Mählmann K, Müller E, Lischer CJ.To describe surgical repair of an orbital wall fracture communicating with the caudal maxillary sinus using a three dimensional (3D)-printed, patient-specific implant (PSI). Methods: Case report. Methods: A 25-year-old Haflinger mare (370 kg). Methods: The mare presented with severe chemosis and emphysema of the left upper and lower eyelid of 2-weeks duration due to a fracture of the ventral floor and inner wall of the left orbit that communicated with the caudal maxillary sinus. Computed tomographic (CT) data were used to design a PSI replicating the inner surface of the unfractured orbit. ...
Brink P, Schumacher J, Ducharme NG, Caniglia CJ, Caruso MA, Ortved K.To describe the technique of and complications associated with excising the nasal septum of horses with the horse standing and to report the outcome of horses undergoing this procedure. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of Twelve horses affected with disease of the nasal septum. Methods: The septum of each horse was excised with the horse sedated. All horses underwent rhinotomy, and six also underwent laryngotomy, to position three loops of obstetrical wire used to make three of four septal incisions. The sites of laryngotomy and rhinotomy were desensitized by infiltrating local a...
Racine J, Ungermann A, Blatter M, von Plato G, Rijkenhuizen ABM.To describe a modified two-portal tenoscopic technique for proximal manica flexoria (MF) resection designed to preserve the mesotendons (MTs) of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Client-owned horses (n = 30). Methods: MF resection was performed in four steps: (1) Transection of the lateral attachment of the MF to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), staying abaxial to the lateral MT; (2) transection of the medial attachment of the MF to the SDFT between the flexor tendons from distal to proximal until reaching the level of the med...
Lepage H, de Chaisemartin C, Spadaro Rosselo A, Leroy H, Lepage O.To describe and report clinical outcomes after transcutaneous guttural pouch (GP) catheterization (TGPC) in standing horses. Methods: Ex vivo study and case series. Methods: One cadaver head, records of 10 normal horses and 14 horses treated with TGPC. Methods: Relevant anatomical landmarks were determined through dissection of one cadaveric specimen and 10 normal radiographic studies. Records of horses diagnosed with empyema or mycosis and treated with standing TGPC were reviewed for complications that occurred during or after the operation. Results: Ex vivo and radiological studies identifie...
Rhodes AD, McCoy AM, Stewart MC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD.To evaluate postoperative racing performance of a population of Standardbred racehorses following arthroscopic removal of an osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) lesion of the femoropatellar joint. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 45 client-owned Standardbred racehorses. Methods: OCD lesions were measured and graded using the length of the subchondral bone defect from preoperative radiographs. Postoperative racing results were obtained from the United States Trotting Association, and follow-up owner surveys were conducted. A control group of contemporaneous paternal siblings free o...
Chiavaccini L, Moura RA, Azevedo TMBPR, De Gennaro C, Vettorato E, Romano M, Portela DA.Dexmedetomidine improves pulmonary function in dogs and humans, but evidence in horses is scarce. This study evaluated dexmedetomidine infusion on oxygenation and respiratory mechanics in anesthetized horses. Twenty horses undergoing elective surgery were included in a prospective, non-randomized, observational study. Horses received either lidocaine alone (1.3 mg/kg over 15 min, then 3 mg/kg/hour; LIDO) or combined with dexmedetomidine (1.75 μg/kg over 15 min, then 1.75 μg/kg/hour; DL). Respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and cardiovascular variables were recorded at baseline, post-loading...
Derar D, Ali A, Al-Sobayil F, Refaai W.Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) represent the most common ovarian neoplasms in mares, yet data on their epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical outcomes in Arabian horses are limited. Understanding their prevalence and diagnostic features is crucial for improving fertility management in this breed. Unassigned: Clinical records from 807 Arabian mares housed on 35 stud farms in central Saudi Arabia were retrospectively reviewed to determine the prevalence of GCT and potential risk factors, including age, parity, and anabolic steroid use. Twenty-four confirmed cases were further investigated using ...
Willems T, Dias ABM, Dedecker L, Matamalas SS, De Lange L, de Beauregard T.Nephrosplenic space entrapment (NSE) has reported recurrence rates of 8%‒23%, and closure of the nephrosplenic space (NSS) has been shown to lower the incidence. Described techniques for nephrosplenic space closure (NSC) with concurrent left dorsal displacement (LDD) of the colon at the time of surgery consist of reducing the displaced colon prior to closure. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the medical records of horse undergoing NSC between 2017 and 2024. A total of 18 horses with LDD at time of NSC and 21 without displacement at time of NSC were evaluated. Short- a...
Southwood LL, Long A, Perez J, Daniel S, Bittinger K, Aitken M, Redding L.Based on human studies, surgical antimicrobial (AMD) prophylaxis (SAP) beyond 24 h is unnecessary and potentially detrimental. Objective: To compare clinical and microbiological outcomes in patients receiving 24- or 72-h of SAP for colic surgery. Methods: Prospective randomised clinical trial. Methods: Horses that recovered from colic surgery were considered. Exclusion criteria were (1) age <2 years; (2) Miniature Horses, pony, and draught breeds; (3) azotaemia; (4) recent hospitalisation, colic surgery, or AMDs; (5) local AMD administration. Eligible horses were randomly assigned to recei...
Hargitaiova K, Maleas G.To describe outcomes following high-metacarpal deep digital flexor tenotomy (DDFT) combined with Steward clog application in horses and ponies with refractory chronic laminitis. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Client-owned horses and ponies (7 horses, 8 ponies) with severe refractory laminitis. Methods: Medical records (2018-2019) were reviewed. All underwent standing high-metacarpal DDFT tenotomy proximal to the accessory ligament (AL-DDFT) junction, followed by customized Steward clogs application. Preoperative assessment included radiography and venography. Postoperativ...
Stoeckle SD, Stage HJ, Gehlen H.Thyroid diseases in horses are rare and pose challenges for veterinarians due to the complexity of clinical and diagnostic approaches. This retrospective case series describes cases of equine thyroid disease in a referral hospital population. Files of horses examined for suspected thyroid disease at an equine university clinic between 2009 and 2024 were reviewed. Data from nine horses examined for suspected thyroid disease, including signalment, clinical presentation, laboratory results, imaging findings, fine needle aspirates, biopsies, diagnoses, and treatments, were summarised. Diagnoses in...
White K, Hird J, Taylor P.The recovery period is associated with the greatest risk of injury for horses undergoing anaesthesia. Recovery quality and duration can be influenced by the volatile agent. Methods: This prospective, randomised blinded clinical investigation recruited 101 healthy client-owned horses undergoing elective surgery at one UK equine hospital. Anaesthesia was standardised, and horses were randomly assigned to receive desflurane or isoflurane for maintenance. Horses were ventilated to normocapnia and received dobutamine to maintain mean arterial blood pressure above 60 mmHg. All the patients received ...
Goetz M, Cremoux M, Lassalle L, Douet JY.To assess the efficacy and safety of Rose Bengal and green light corneal cross-linking (RGX) as an adjunctive treatment for complicated corneal ulcers and stromal abscesses in horses. Methods: A retrospective analysis included 81 horses (82 eyes) treated with RGX between 2018 and 2024. Cases involved complicated corneal diseases such as melting keratitis, fungal keratitis, deep stromal defects, and stromal abscesses. Treatment consisted of topical or iontophoretic administration of 1% Rose Bengal followed by green light irradiation (550 nm; 150 J/cm) for 10 min. Most procedures (76.8%) w...
de Chaisemartin C, Belluco S, Nottrott K.Dental masses such as odontogenic masses, heterotopic polydontia, or ectopic supernumerary teeth have been documented in the equine head. This is the first case report of a large maxillary sinus mass with 3 ectopic teeth in an adult horse. A 14-year-old warmblood gelding was presented for evaluation of chronic right-sided nasal discharge. After imaging exploration, surgery was performed on the standing horse with a conchofrontal sinus trephination and a large maxillary bone (MB) sinusotomy. The examinations revealed a sinusal mass in the right maxillary sinus covered by sinusal mucosa and surr...
Danese T, Asti V, Ablondi M, Raspa F, Cavallini D, Valle E.Colic represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in equine medicine, with nutritional management recognized as a key modifiable factor influencing postoperative recovery. However, guiding principles for nutritional enteral support in horses after colic remain limited, and current practices are largely empirical. Objective: This scoping review aimed to (1) examine enteral nutritional support protocols reported in literature through a scoping review to map the available evidence on equine clinical nutrition in the context of colic, and (2) propose a physiology-based interpre...
