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.
Zetterström SM, Matz BM, Neto RLALT, Lindley SES, Cole RC, Wilhite R, Boone LH.To describe the surgical findings, histopathological features, and long-term outcome for a horse with parotid salivary carcinoma. Methods: Case report ANIMALS: Twelve year old American Quarter Horse gelding. Methods: The gelding was presented for a 10 × 10 cm swelling below the base of the right ear. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a mass involving the right parotid salivary gland. Incisional biopsy was consistent with parotid carcinoma. The tumor was marginally excised. The lateral wall of the guttural pouch was excised with the mass and was reconstructed with a porcine small int...
Puolakkainen T, Marttila E, Thorén H, Snäll J.Patients with equine-related injuries (ERI) have high rates of hospitalization and often require surgical treatment. This study aimed to clarify the injury profiles of patients sustaining ERI-related craniofacial fractures and their relationship with other severe head and neck injuries.This retrospective study included all patients with craniofacial fractures admitted to a tertiary trauma center during 2013 to 2018. Out of 3256 patients, a total of 39 patients were included in the study (1.2%). Demographic and clinically relevant variables were reported and statistically evaluated.Males repres...
Carvalho JRG, Conde G, Antonioli ML, Santana CH, Littiere TO, Dias PP, Chinelatto MA, Canola PA, Zara FJ, Ferraz GC.In horses, there is an increasing interest in developing long-lasting drug formulations, with biopolymers as viable carrier alternatives in addition to their use as scaffolds, suture threads, screws, pins, and plates for orthopedic surgeries. This communication focuses on the prolonged biocompatibility and biodegradation of PLA, prepared by hot pressing at 180 °C. Six samples were implanted subcutaneously on the lateral surface of the neck of one horse. The polymers remained implanted for 24 to 57 weeks. Physical examination, plasma fibrinogen, and the mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) w...
Erwin SJ, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL.Colic is a leading cause of death in horses, with the most fatal form being strangulating obstruction which directly damages the intestinal barrier. Following surgical intervention, it is imperative that the intestinal barrier rapidly repairs to prevent translocation of gut bacteria and their products and ensure survival of the patient. Age-related disparities in survival have been noted in many species, including horses, humans, and pigs, with younger patients suffering poorer clinical outcomes. Maintenance and repair of the intestinal barrier is regulated by a complex mucosal microenvironmen...
Ryan A, Gurney M, Steinbacher R.A 10-year-old 466 kg mustang gelding presented to an equine referral hospital for surgical repair of nasal, frontal and lacrimal bone fractures from an unknown trauma. Surgical repair was performed under general anaesthesia, including a right-sided maxillary regional anaesthetic block with mepivacaine hydrochloride. Progressive hyperkalaemia was documented perianaesthetically (T-3 mins; 134 mins after induction; potassium 6.4 mmol/L (ref 3.5-5.1 mmol/L). Perianaesthetic bradycardia was attributed to alpha -2 agonist infusion administration, and other characteristic ECG changes (flattened ...
Fürst AE, Lischer CJ.Many disorders affect the equine foot, and many hoof problems have multiple predisposing causes. Surgery may be necessary after conservative management has failed. Diseases of the hoof capsule may seem simple, but their effect on performance can be long-lasting and healing is often prolonged. Diagnosis of problems within the hoof capsule is enhanced with the use of computed tomography and MRI. The prognosis of fractures has improved with strategic placement of lag screws across fracture planes using aiming devices and advanced intraoperative imaging techniques. Collaboration between the clinic...
Tucker R, Parker RA, Meredith LE, Hughes TK, Foote AK.To describe the surgical removal of intra-articular loose bodies (LBs) from the cervical articular process joints (APJs) in five horses and to describe the outcome of the surgery. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Five client-owned horses with naturally occurring LBs within the cervical APJs. Methods: Medical records were reviewed of horses that were diagnosed with LBs of the cervical APJs on computed tomography (CT), where the LBs were subsequently removed surgically. Details of case selection and surgical technique were reviewed along with postoperative complications and clinical outcome....
Mählmann K, Noguera Cender A, Ehrle A, Lischer CJ.To describe a novel fixation of open, unstable, unilateral mandibular fractures applying a locking compression plate as an external skeletal fixator (ESF-LCP). Methods: Four horses and one dromedary. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Animals presented with unstable, open, unilateral fractures of the mandible. Fracture fixation was performed under general anesthesia. A 4.5/5.5 narrow LCP was applied externally above the level of the skin and combined with intraoral tension band wiring. Results: Fracture fixation was achieved successfully using an ESF-LCP. Minimal tissue manipulation was requ...
Dias IR, Maia LM, Quaresma M, Cotovio M, Silva FC.Complete fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bones (Mc/t3) are not common, but can occur in various situations and all types of horses, contributing for approximately one third of all long bone fractures in the horse, mostly related to external trauma or to high energy injuries. To stabilize Mc/t3 fractures in the horse, conservative management with walking casts and/or open reduction and internal fixation techniques are referred in the scientific literature, these last one generally by double platting application to bone surface in 90 degrees. In the present case will be described a ...
Loomes K, Louro LF.The recovery phase after equine general anaesthesia (GA) is a time of considerable risk and therefore has been the subject of extensive research over the last 20 years. Various pharmacological interventions have been developed and studied with the objective of improving recovery quality and reducing anaesthetic-related mortality and morbidity. Nevertheless, some controversy remains regarding the influence of anaesthetic protocol choice on recovery quality from GA and its implications for recovery-related mortality and morbidity. A systematic review of the literature investigating the influenc...
de Souza TC, Suthers JM, Busschers E, Burford JH, Freeman SL.Synovial sepsis is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in horses. Despite advances in diagnostics and treatments, persistent infection or chronic lameness can occur. Objective: To perform a scoping review to identify and evaluate the current evidence on the factors implicated in the success of treatment for synovial sepsis. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review. Methods: A protocol was registered, and a systematic literature search was performed on CAB abstracts, Medline, Scopus and Embase. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed and studies systematically reviewed ag...
Samuels K, Bettis A, Davenport DL, Bernard AC.Nineteen million people participate in horseback riding activities in the US, and the horse industry employs more than 460,000 full-time workers. Emergency department data suggest young female amateurs and male professionals are most at risk of death from horse-related injuries. However, there has been no investigation into factors that may increase severe injury and mortality risk in these populations. This study investigates demographics and injury pattern differences between occupational and non-occupational horse-related injuries in the US. Methods: The 2017 American College of Surgeons Na...
Gandini M, Giusto G.7 horses (3 geldings, 2 mares, and 2 stallions) were examined because of acute colic caused by small intestinal obstruction involving the aborad portion of the jejunum and orad portion of the ileum. All horses underwent a routine colic examination on arrival and had a diagnosis of strangulating obstruction of the small intestine. All horses underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy, in which the affected aborad portion of the jejunum and orad portion of the ileum were resected; in 5 horses, a hand-sewn end-to-end jejuno-ileal anastomosis was combined with a hand-sewn incomplete ileocecal bypa...
Rouge M, Elkhatib R, Delalande C, Cognié J, Reigner F, Barriere P, Deleuze S, Cousty M, Legendre F, Galera P, Hanoux V, Bouraima-Lelong H.Although vitamin D acts in various biological processes, it plays a critical role in the maintenance of bone health, and regulates calcium homeostasis. In humans and rodents, the main tissues involved in vitamin D metabolism are the liver and the kidneys, however it has been shown that the testis has strongly participated in its bioactivation. Indeed, in these different species, enzymes metabolizing vitamin D (CYP27A1, CYP27B1 and CYP2R1) have been demonstrated in this tissue. Moreover, men with hypogonadism have shown a decrease in circulating levels of vitamin D. In equine species, the castr...
Kau S, Mansfeld MD, Šoba A, Zwick T, Staszyk C.Prevotella histicola is a facultative oral pathogen that under certain conditions causes pathologies such as caries and periodontitis in humans. Prevotella spp. also colonize the oral cavity of horses and can cause disease, but P. histicola has not yet been identified. Methods: A 12-year-old Tinker mare was referred to the clinic for persistent, malodorous purulent nasal discharge and quidding. Conservative antibiotic (penicillin), antiphlogistic (meloxicam), and mucolytic (dembrexine-hydrochloride) treatment prior to referral was unsuccessful and symptoms worsened. Oral examination, radiograp...
Parvini P, Mihatovic I, Sahin D, Becker J, Schwarz F.To assess the clinical performance of an equine-derived collagen-containing bone block (CXBB) for lateral alveolar ridge augmentation and staged implant placement. Methods: A total of n = 16 patients (16 implants) had received a modified surgical protocol for lateral ridge augmentation using a size-adapted rigidly fixed CXBB and contour augmentation. After 26 weeks of submerged healing, the primary endpoint was defined as the final ridge width (RW26) sufficient to place an adequately dimensioned titanium implant at the respective sites. Secondary outcomes included the gain in ridge width (R...
Monteiro FDO, Borges LPB, Cardoso TDS, Teixeira PPM, Filho DZ, Sartori VC, Pereira RN, Flores FN, Coelho CMM, Silva MAM, Valadão CAA.This study aimed to describe an animal model for studying equine visceral pain using minimally invasive and video-assisted cecum and ileum instrumentation. The access to the cecum and ileum was affected because of a previous typhlostomy. For video-assisted distention of the cecum and ileum, a distention device, which we developed using an endotracheal Rusch probe, was used, adapted, and coupled to a cuffometer to inflate and measure the pressure of the cuff attached to its distal portion. In a video-assisted manner, the distal portion of the device was introduced into the cecum and ileum, whic...
de Souza Garcia AF, Ribeiro G, de Assis Arantes J, Reginato GM, Xavier NV, Carregaro AB, Silva TJF, Grigoletto R, de Freitas SH, Dória RGS.For horses requiring prolonged daily cephalic intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP), the use of a totally implantable catheter (TIC) could be indicated to reduce complications associated with frequent venipuncture or external catheterization. This study aims to evaluate the implantation technique of the TIC in the cephalic vein of horses for IVRLP, describe the complications associated with the device's placement and use, and assess its viability up to 60 days after implantation. Totally implantable catheters, cut to 15 cm (n = 5) and 46 cm (n = 5) in length, were implanted...
Dupont J, Gougnard A, Salciccia A, Detilleux J, Serteyn D, Sandersen C.To compare the efficacy of single-breath continuous positive airway pressure manoeuvre (CPAP-M) with inhaled salbutamol, and a combination of both. Methods: Randomized, clinical study. Methods: A total of 62 client-owned horses (American Society of Anesthesiologists status III-V) anaesthetized for laparotomy. Methods: Horses were premedicated with intravenous (IV) xylazine (0.4-0.6 mg kg), anaesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.06 mg kg IV) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg IV) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen using volume-controlled ventilation without positive end-expiratory pressure. If Pa...
Broyles AH, Embertson RM, Brett Woodie J, Machado V.There is persistent concern among some trainers, owners and veterinarians regarding the effect of preoperative laryngeal function grade on the outcome of laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy (LPVC). Objective: To determine the effect of laryngeal function grade prior to LPVC on postoperative performance. Methods: Retrospective case-series. Methods: Medical and race records of Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) and treated with LPVC between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed. Horses were placed into three groups based on preoperative laryngeal function grade ...
Orsini JA.The multiple topics summarized in this article and discussed in detail in this issue of VCNA are comprehensive and in-depth, exploring concepts and clinical experiences for state-of-the-art care of the equine foot. The research on the equine foot will translate to the clinical setting and with this the compassionate care of the horse.
Louro LF, Robson K, Hughes J, Loomes K, Senior M.In equine anaesthesia, the recovery period is critical, accounting for most anaesthesia-related fatalities reported. Horses may recover unassisted or may be assisted, for example, using a head and tail rope recovery method. Objective: To compare the impact of head and tail rope and unassisted recovery method on quality of recovery in horses undergoing colic surgery under general anaesthesia (GA). Methods: Single centre retrospective cross-sectional study, with prospective model performance analysis. Methods: Clinical data were obtained from horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy ov...
Skelton JA, Hawkins JF, Rochat MC.A 13-year-old 128-kg miniature donkey gelding was evaluated for right forelimb lameness of 7 weeks' duration. Muscular atrophy of the infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscles over the right scapula with a palpable bony prominence over the point of the shoulder was evident. At the walk, the cranial phase of the stride was reduced with adduction of the distal aspect of the limb, dragging of the toe, and lameness (grade, 4/5). Lateral and craniocaudal radiographs of the right shoulder joint revealed lateral luxation of the humerus in relation to the scapula with bony proliferation and remodeling o...
Geiger T, Gerhards H, Wollanke B.Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is typically caused by chronic intraocular leptospiral infection in warm-blooded horses in central Europe. The most effective therapy for leptospiral-induced ERU is the surgical removal of diseased vitreous (vitrectomy). Since vitrectomy is a highly specialized and invasive surgery, the indication must be determined very carefully. In order to obtain evidence of intraocular leptospiral infection by laboratory diagnostics in questionable leptospiral ERU-cases, sampling of aqueous humor is required, because serum tests using microscopic agglutination test (MAT) are...
Schweinsberg LP, Ehrle A, Schweinsberg U, Meehan L, Noguera Cender A, Lischer CJ.To describe the surgical correction of a multiplanar deformity of the radius in a pony using a single-cut osteotomy. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 9-week-old male Shetland pony foal with a bodyweight of 47 kg. Methods: The foal presented with a complex multiplanar deformity of the right radius. A 3-dimensional model of the bone was created based on computed tomography (CT) imaging. To correct the deformity, the cutting plane for a single-cut osteotomy was calculated following the mathematical approach described by Sangeorzan et al. After osteotomy, the bone was realigned and stabilized wi...
Przewoźny M, Senderska-Płonowska M, Rząsa A, Wierzbicki H, Borkowski J, Swagemakers JH, Żak-Bochenek A, Stefaniak T.Arthroscopy and splint bone removal are the common orthopedic procedures in horses. Estimation of the dynamics of acute phase proteins in postoperative monitoring seems to be interesting diagnostic approach. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in the concentrations of plasma inflammatory markers-fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and protease inhibitors-following orthopedic surgery in horses. The study involved 114 horses, divided into two study groups undergoing: arthroscopy (41 horses) and splint bone removal (13 horses). The control group consisted of 60 healthy horses. The blood was coll...
Conradie M, Robert M, Carstens A.A 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented with a history of mild unilateral right-sided epistaxis and facial swelling over the right caudal maxillary sinus and zygomatic arch. Eleven months previously a progressive ethmoid hematoma had been surgically removed from the right caudal maxillary and conchofrontal sinus. Computed tomography identified a large expansile soft-tissue attenuating mass in the right caudal maxillary sinus, with protrusion into the conchofrontal sinus, that extended into the zygomatic arch. Lytic expansion and thinning of the cortex with pneumatization of the zygomatic a...
Loomes K, Louro LF.In equine anaesthesia, the recovery period is a time of considerable risk and has been the focus of prolific research. Risk factors, including age, type and duration of procedure or temperament may influence recovery quality. Unfortunately, the anaesthetist is unable to control for these factors, therefore various pharmacological interventions and recovery methods have been developed with the objective of improving recovery quality. However, no consensus among anaesthetists has been reached for many of these interventions and their implications for recovery-related mortality and morbidity. Obj...
Gutzmer C, Nijdam P.Dentigerous cysts are characterised by the formation of cysts containing dental material with a variable level of development. They are the result of a distinct embryological phenomenon. Usually, they are of significant clinical relevance in horses, especially in tandem with ectopic tooth. Contrarily, supernumerary teeth or typical polyodontias usually have limited impact. In this case report, we describe the occurrence of a supernumerary first premolar (Triadan 105). Dissimilar to known scientific literature however was the formation of a cystic structure around the supernumerary tooth. Surgi...
Lopes MAF, Hardy J, Farnsworth K, Labens R, Lam WYE, Noschka E, Afonso T, Cruz Villagrán C, Santos LCP, Saulez M, Kelmer G.Standing flank laparotomy can be an alternative to ventral midline laparotomy in horses with colic. Standing flank laparotomy avoids general anaesthesia, provides excellent access to some regions of the abdominopelvic cavity and costs less than ventral midline laparotomy. Objective: To report a series of cases of peritoneal and intestinal diseases other than SC diseases managed with standing flank laparotomy. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Records from equids with colic subjected to standing flank laparotomy at five hospitals (2003-2020) were reviewed. Descriptive data analysis w...
Jacklin BD, Minshall GJ, Wright IM.Surgical management for overriding spinous processes of the thoracolumbar vertebrae (SPs) is often favoured when conservative therapies have failed, pathology is severe, or in competition horses constrained by drug withdrawal periods. Objective: To evaluate whether subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy represents an effective treatment for overriding SPs, with short surgery time and low complication rates, maintains the contour of the spine and produces a functionally and cosmetically better outcome than previously reported surgical techniques for management of overriding/impinging SPs. Methods: ...
Coomer RP, Fowke GS, McKane S.To report the technique and results of cheek teeth repulsion in standing, sedated horses. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 12), ponies (6). Methods: Medical records (2006-2009) of horses that had cheek tooth repulsion while standing were reviewed. Inclusion criteria included: maxillary or mandibular cheek tooth disease diagnosed by clinical and radiographic examination where attempted oral extraction failed necessitating repulsion. Horses were sedated and a local nerve block performed. Intraoperative radiographs facilitated instrument positioning and ensured repulsion of all dental r...
Rodgerson DH, Belknap JK, Wilson DA.To describe in horses and ponies a laparoscopic ovariectomy technique facilitated by electrosurgical instrumentation. Methods: Elective ovariectomy was performed in 23 mares using laparoscopic electrosurgical instrumentation. Methods: Twenty-three mares (13 horses, 10 ponies), aged from 2 to 21 years and weighing 90 to 545 kg. Methods: Food was withheld for a minimum of 12 hours. Mares were sedated with detomidine hydrochloride (0.02 to 0.03 mg/kg) or xylazine hydrochloride (0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg). Excluding the pony mares, all other mares were restrained in stocks. Portal sites in the paralumbar f...
Snyder JR.Intestinal edema, luminal distention, and ischemia are common pathologic processes involved in producing the intestinal damage found during surgical exploration for acute abdominal disorders in the horse. The severity of intestinal edema depends on the degree of altered intravascular forces and changes in capillary permeability. Capillary hydrostatic pressure rises as the less pliable venules and veins become occluded during intestinal obstruction. Concurrently, the production of various endogenous products that damage the vascular wall leads to increases in capillary permeability and protein ...
Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC.Perioperative lidocaine treatment is commonly used in horses that undergo surgical treatment of colic, to prevent or treat postoperative ileus and reduce the effects of intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. However, its clinical efficacy has not been evaluated in a large population of horses undergoing small intestinal surgery. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether systemic lidocaine administration reduced the prevalence, volume and duration of postoperative reflux and improved rates of survival following surgical treatment of small intestinal lesions. Data were collected as ...
Brooks DE, Plummer CE, Carastro SM, Utter ME.To evaluate the long-term visual outcome of phacoemulsification lens extraction surgery in foals and horses and identify any unique postoperative complications that affect the visual outcome. Methods: This is a retrospective medical records study of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in 95 foals and horses from 1990 to 2013. Results: Cataracts were removed by phacoemulsification from 111 eyes of 95 horses ranging in age from 22 days to 26 years (average 8.0 ± 5.7 years). Forty-four of the 95 animals were foals (46.3%). Sixteen horses or foals had surgery bilaterally. One hundred and two eye...
Gerard MP, Blikslager AT, Roberts MC, Tate LP, Argenzio RA.Recent studies suggest that horses requiring surgical correction of strangulating intestinal obstruction may develop post operative complications as a result of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, the mucosal and serosal margins of resected small intestine from 9 horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions were examined for evidence of ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Severe mucosal injury and marked elevations in myeloperoxidase activity were detected at ileal resection margins (n = 4), whereas the mucosa from proximal jejunal (n = 9) and distal jejunal (n = 5) resection margins was ...
Toews AR, Bailey JV, Townsend HG, Barber SM.To examine the amount of heat generated in equine cortical bone by a 6.2-mm drill, using low- and high-speed and controlled feed rate drilling. Methods: 10 metacarpal bones harvested from five 2-year-old draft-type horses. Methods: Drilling on metacarpal bones was done using a machine shop mill with which the feed rate and drill speed could be precisely controlled. Bones were drilled, using 6 combinations of feed rate (1, 2, and 3 mm advance/s) and drill speed (317 and 1,242 revolutions/min [rpm], with maximal temperatures recorded by thermocouples placed 1, 1.5, and 2 mm from the drill. Maxim...
Freeman DE, Donawick WJ.An intravascular procedure was used to occlude the internal carotid artery of two horses with epistaxis caused by guttural pouch mycosis. In each horse, the affected internal carotid artery was ligated close to its origin. A balloon-tipped catheter was introduced into the artery distal to the ligature, and its tip was advanced beyond the site of infection. The balloon was then inflated so that the infected segment of artery was isolated from the cerebral vascular system. The catheters were removed at 14 and 51 days, and both horses were returned to training and racing. Neither horse had furthe...
van Loon JPAM, Visser EMS, de Mik-van Mourik M, Kerbert P, Huppes T, Menke ES.Colic surgery in horses impacts both short-term well-being of horses due to possible surgical and anesthetic complications and also long-term return to a sporting career. In this retrospective study, survival and complication rates, as well as functional outcome and behavioral problems in horses that underwent colic surgery were studied. Data from 283 horses that underwent colic surgery at a veterinary teaching hospital were analyzed. Furthermore, owners were contacted and requested to fill out a questionnaire concerning the first year of rehabilitation. Of 283 horses that underwent colic surg...
Clark L, Clutton RE, Blissitt KJ, Chase-Topping ME.To study the effects of morphine on haemodynamic variables, blood gas values and the requirement for additional anaesthetic drugs in horses undergoing surgery. Methods: Prospective randomized study. Methods: Thirty-eight client-owned horses, ASA(American Society of Anesthesiologists) category I or II, undergoing elective surgical procedures, were studied. Horses were divided between two groups, and were paired according to operation, anaesthetist, body position during surgery, mass and breed. Group M+ received morphine by intravenous (IV) injection (0.15 mg kg(-1)) before induction of anaesthe...
Kennedy R, Reardon RJM, James O, Wilson C, Dixon PM.Complications, especially delayed alveolar healing, are common following equine cheek teeth extraction, however, limited objective information is available on the prevalence and nature of these problems. Objective: To document the type and prevalence of complications that occur following equine cheek tooth extraction and to identify possible risk factors for these complications that could be used to predict their occurrence and hopefully reduce their prevalence. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Clinical records of all cheek teeth extractions performed between February 2004 and Sep...
Virgin J, Hendrickson D, Wallis T, Rao S.To compare the presence or absence of pain, pain-related behavioral responses, and hormonal responses to noxious stimuli during standing laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares sedated with continuous intravenous (IV) detomidine infusion and caudal epidural detomidine. Methods: A double blind prospective study. Methods: Mares (n=12) Methods: Mares were divided into 2 treatment groups; 6 were sedated using continuous IV detomidine infusion and 6 were sedated with caudal epidural detomidine. All mares received IV xylazine (0.33 mg/kg) and butorphanol tartrate (5 mg) premedication before detomidine adm...
Muir WW, Lerche P, Robertson JT, Hubbell JA, Beard W, Miller T, Badgley B, Bothwell V.To evaluate anesthetic effects of 4 drug combinations used for total intravenous anesthesia of horses undergoing surgical removal of an abdominal testis. Methods: Clinical trial. Methods: 32 healthy cryptorchid horses. Methods: Horses were sedated with xylazine and butorphanol and were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: induction of anesthesia with ketamine and diazepam and maintenance with bolus administration of ketamine and xylazine (KD/KX); induction and maintenance of anesthesia with bolus administration of tiletamine-zolazepam, ketamine, and detomidine (TKD); induction and maintenance o...
Kilcoyne I, Dechant JE, Spier SJ, Spriet M, Nieto JE.To determine the influence of radiographic quantification of sand accumulation on the medical versus surgical management of large colon sand accumulations. To compare short- and long-term outcomes and complications associated with medical and surgical management of these horses. Methods: Retrospective. Methods: A total of 153 horses. Methods: Medical records and abdominal radiographs of horses presented for colic between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed. Severity of sand accumulation was quantified by tracing and measuring a region of interest with a commercial software program. Breed, weight, amou...
Bouré L, Marcoux M, Laverty S.The purposes of this study were to develop a technique of paralumbar fossa laparoscopic ovariectomy using Endoloop ligatures and to avoid a laparotomy incision for ovary removal by using a 33-mm diameter muscle spreader trocar-cannula unit. Methods: Seven mares. Methods: Bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy was performed under general anesthesia in two horses and under neuroleptanalgesia and local anesthesia in five standing mares. Ovaries were approached from the ipsilateral paralumbar fossa through two portal sites located in the paralumbar fossa and a third between the 17th and 18th ribs. Ins...
Nevins M, Heinemann F, Janke UW, Lombardi T, Nisand D, Rocchietta I, Santoro G, Schupbach P, Kim DM.The objective of this proof-of-principle multicenter case series was to examine the bone regenerative potential of a newly introduced equine-derived bone mineral matrix (Equimatrix) to provide human sinus augmentation for the purpose of implant placement in the posterior maxilla. There were 10 patients requiring 12 maxillary sinus augmentations enrolled in this study. Histologic results at 6 months demonstrated abundant amounts of vital new bone in intimate contact with residual graft particles. Active bridging between residual graft particles with newly regenerated bone was routinely observed...
Wolyncewicz GEL, Palmer CS, Jowett HE, Hutson JM, King SK, Teague WJ.Horse-related injuries account for one quarter of all paediatric sports fatalities. It is not known whether the pattern of injury spectrum and severity differ between children injured whilst mounted, compared with those injured unmounted around horses. We aimed to identify any distinctions between the demographic features, spectrum and severity of injuries for mounted versus unmounted patients. Methods: Trauma registry data were reviewed for 505 consecutive paediatric patients (aged<16years) admitted to a large paediatric trauma centre with horse-related injuries over a 16-year period. Patient...
Portier KG, Jaillardon L, Leece EA, Walsh CM.To evaluate the effects of local anaesthesia with lidocaine for castration of horses under intravenous anaesthesia. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial. Methods: Fifteen equidae, scheduled to undergo castration under total intravenous anaesthesia, were randomly distributed in two groups. One group received lidocaine injections (group L: two ponies, four horses, two donkeys) and the other received saline (group S: two ponies, three horses, two donkeys). Methods: Behaviour, heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (f(R)) were evaluated prior to anaesthesia. Body mass was measure...
Hart KA, Linnenkohl W, Mayer JR, House AM, Gold JR, Giguère S.Medical management of sand enteropathy is common in equine practice, but the clinical features and outcomes associated with medically managed sand enteropathy are not well described. Objective: To review clinical features, therapeutic approaches and outcomes associated with primary medical management of sand enteropathy in the mature horse. Methods: Medical record databases at 3 equine referral hospitals from January 2000 to April 2010 were reviewed for cases of sand enteropathy diagnosed via abdominal radiographs in mature horses that were initially managed medically. Data were collected and ...
Santschi EM, Adams SB, Robertson JT, DeBowes RM, Mitten LA, Sojka JE.Six mares had ovariohysterectomy performed for chronic pyometra associated with cervical abnormalities, uterine neoplasia, or removal of a macerated fetus. Ovariohysterectomy was performed through a ventral midline incision with access to the ovarian and uterine vessels aided by traction on the uterus and retraction of abdominal viscera. Abdominal pain, the most common complication after surgery, occurred in four mares but resolved within 36 hours. Peritonitis occurred in two mares; one mare was subsequently euthanatized. Other complications that resolved with treatment included infection of t...
Abass M, Picek S, Garzón JFG, Kühnle C, Zaghlou A, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R.In horses castration with primary intention healing is usually performed under balanced inhalation anaesthesia. To optimise analgesia, the use of local anaesthesia was tested. Objective: To investigate the effect of local mepivacaine before castration with first intention healing under balanced medetomidine-isoflurane anaesthesia and flunixin meglumine, morphine analgesia on perioperative cytokine levels and pain in horses. Methods: Prospective blinded clinical study. Methods: Twenty stallions were randomly assigned to control or mepivacaine groups. Flunixin meglumine was administered before s...
Archer DC, Proudman CJ, Pinchbeck G, Smith JE, French NP, Edwards GB.The clinical features of 71 cases in 70 horses in which part of the small intestine became entrapped in the epiploic foramen are described. The horses' sex, age and breed, the month during which they were affected, and whether they exhibited stereotypic behaviour were compared with the same variables in 1279 horses which suffered other types of surgical colic during the same period. Thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross horses were over-represented among the 70 affected horses. There was no age or sex predilection. Fifty-five (77.5 per cent) of the cases occurred between October and March and 15...
Long AE, Southwood LL, Morris TB, Brandly JE, Stefanovski D.Early identification of strangulating obstruction (SO) in horses with colic improves outcomes, yet early diagnosis of horses requiring surgery for SO often remains challenging. Objectives: To compare blood and peritoneal fluid l-lactate concentrations, peritoneal:blood l-lactate ratio, peritoneal minus blood (peritoneal-blood) l-lactate concentration and other clinical variables for predicting SO and SO in horses with small intestinal lesions (SO-SI) and then to develop a multivariable model to predict SO and SO-SI.
DePhillipo NN, Hendesi H, Aman ZS, Lind DRG, Smith J, Dodge GR.To evaluate the efficacy of fibroblast growth factor-18 (FGF-18) augmentation for improving articular cartilage healing following surgical repair in preclinical () animal models. A systematic review was performed evaluating the efficacy of FGF-18 augmentation with cartilage surgery compared with cartilage surgery without FGF-18 augmentation in living animal models. Eligible intervention groups were FGF-18 treatment in conjunction with orthopedic procedures, including microfracture, osteochondral auto/allograft transplantation, and cellular-based repair. Outcome variables were: International Ca...
Senior JM, Pinchbeck GL, Allister R, Dugdale AH, Clark L, Clutton RE, Coumbe K, Dyson S, Clegg PD.There is little information on the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, post anaesthetic colic (PAC) in horses undergoing nonabdominal operations. Objective: To undertake the first prospective study of prevalence of PAC and identify risk factors in its development in nonabdominal procedures. Methods: A multicentre prospective case-control study was conducted, on every horse undergoing anaesthesia for a nonabdominal procedure between April 2004 and June 2005. Colic cases were defined as any horse with recognised signs of abdominal pain within 72 h of general anaesthesia that could n...
