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.
Wakuno A, Maeda T, Kodaira K, Kikuchi T, Ohta M.A three-year old Thoroughbred racehorse was anesthetized with sevoflurane and oxygen inhalation anesthesia combined with constant rate infusion (CRI) of alfaxalone-medetomidine for internal fixation of a third metacarpal bone fracture. After premedication with intravenous (IV) injections of medetomidine (6.0 µg/kg IV), butorphanol (25 µg/kg IV), and midazolam (20 µg/kg IV), anesthesia was induced with 5% guaifenesin (500 ml/head IV) followed immediately by alfaxalone (1.0 mg/kg IV). Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and CRIs of alfaxalone (1.0 mg/kg/hr) and medetomidine (3.0 µg/kg...
Regnier A, Berton I, Concordet D, Douet JY.To assess the degree and duration of corneal anaesthesia provided by topical application of a non-ophthalmic 2% lidocaine gel in horses. Methods: Experimental, 'blinded', randomized prospective study. Methods: Twelve adult horses without relevant ocular abnormalities. Methods: Baseline corneal touch threshold (CTT) measurements were obtained bilaterally by use of a Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer just prior to topical treatment. A volume of 0.2mL of 2% lidocaine gel was administered in one randomly selected eye and the same volume of a viscous lubricant in the other eye to serve as control. The C...
Wright K, Ireland JL, Rendle DI.Horses are reported to return to a variety of disciplines following unilateral enucleation; however, owners of horses with ocular disease are frequently reluctant to consider the procedure. There is little published information investigating owners' attitudes towards, and satisfaction following, enucleation. Objective: To investigate the hypotheses: 1) horses return to their previous level of work following unilateral enucleation and 2) their owners are satisfied with the post-operative outcome. Methods: Retrospective case series with cross-sectional survey. Methods: Clinical records from eigh...
Jacklin B.Ben Jacklin is equine director and consultant veterinary surgeon at CVS UK. He is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons and an RCVS and ECVS Specialist in equine surgery.
Manneveau GB, Robert MP, Tessier C, Bizon-Mercier C.This report describes a rare case of gastric impaction caused by a trichophytobezoar in a foal. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing this condition and reports surgical removal via a gastrotomy after failure of medical treatment. Ablation chirurgicale d’un trichophytobézoar gastrique chez un poulain. Ce rapport décrit un rare cas d’obstruction gastrique causé par un trichophytobézoar chez un poulain. Ce cas souligne la difficulté à diagnostiquer cette affection et fait rapport sur l’ablation chirurgicale lors d’une gastrotomie après l’échec du traitement médical...
Leahy ER, Holcombe SJ, Hackett ES, Scoggin CF, Embertson RM.Limited data exist describing broodmare longevity and reproductive efficiency after surgical correction of ≥360 degree large colon volvulus (° LCV). Objective: Compare career duration and foals delivered for broodmares before and after ≥360° LCV surgery. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Broodmares registered with The Jockey Club that had surgical correction of ≥360° LCV and survived to hospital discharge at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2015 were included. Information was collected from the hospital's medical data base and The Jockey Cl...
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...
van Bergen T, Rötting A, Wiemer P, Schauvliege S, Vanderperren K, Ugahary F, Martens A.Preventive laparoscopic closure of the epiploic foramen (EF) has previously been described, but methods for EF closure during laparotomy for treatment of colic are lacking. Objective: To describe the foramen epiploicum mesh closure (FEMC) technique through a ventral midline laparotomy in horses under general anaesthesia and its outcome. Methods: Terminal surgical experiment and in vivo study. Methods: In a pilot study, a standard ventral midline laparotomy was performed under general anaesthesia in 10 experimental horses and a three-dimensional expandable diabolo-shaped mesh construct was manu...
Platt JP, Simon BT, Coleman M, Martinez EA, Lepiz MA, Watts AE.Although rare, 70% of equine fatalities during recovery from general anaesthesia (GA) are due to catastrophic fractures from poor recovery quality. Objective: To determine the effect of repeated GA recovery on GA recovery quality. Methods: Experimental blinded trial. Methods: Eight adult horses underwent six GA events on sevoflurane for distal limb MRI examination over a 14-week period. Prior to GA recovery, xylazine was administered. Randomly ordered video-recorded GA recoveries were scored by three blinded board certified veterinary anaesthesiologists, unaware of patient identity or GA event...
Rice MK, Henry TJ.Diseased cheek teeth in horses often require invasive extraction techniques that carry a high rate of complications. Techniques and instrumentation were developed to perform partial crown removal to aid standing intraoral extraction of diseased cheek teeth in horses. Objective: To analyse success rates and post-surgical complications in horses undergoing cheek teeth extraction assisted by partial crown removal. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study included 165 horses with 194 diseased cheek teeth that were extracted orally assisted by partial crown removal between 2010 and ...
Herdrich MRA, Arrieta SE, Nelson BB, Frisbie DD, Moorman VJ.OBJECTIVE To determine accuracy for a technique of needle redirection at a single craniolateral site for injection of 3 compartments of the equine stifle joint, describe the external needle position, and identify the location of the needle tip within each joint compartment. SAMPLE 24 equine cadaver stifle joints. PROCEDURES Stifle joints were placed in a customized stand. After the needle was placed, external needle position was measured and recorded. Each joint compartment (medial and lateral compartments of the femorotibial joint and the femoropatellar joint) was injected with a solution con...
Wright IM, Minshall GJ.Chip fractures of the dorsoproximal articular margin of the proximal phalanx are common injuries in racehorses. Large fractures can extend distal to the joint capsule insertion and have been described as dorsal frontal fractures. Objective: To report the location and morphology of short frontal plane fractures involving the dorsoproximal articular surface of the proximal phalanx and describe a technique for repair under arthroscopic and radiographic guidance. Methods: Single centre retrospective case study. Methods: Case records of horses with frontal plane fractures restricted to the dorsopro...
Rubio-Martínez LM, Redding WR, Bladon B, Wilderjans H, Payne RJ, Tessier C, Geffroy O, Parker R, Bell C, Collingwood FA.Fractures of the medial intercondylar eminence of the tibia (MICET) are scarcely reported in horses. Objective: To report the clinical and diagnostic findings, surgical treatment and outcome in a series of horses presented with MICET fracture and treated with arthroscopic fragment removal. Methods: Multicentre retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of horses diagnosed with MICET fractures that had undergone surgical treatment were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained from re-examination visits and/or owners. Results: Twenty-one cases were identified at 9 equine hospitals betw...
Mancini IAD, Vindas Bolaños RA, Brommer H, Castilho M, Ribeiro A, van Loon JPAM, Mensinga A, van Rijen MHP, Malda J, van Weeren R.To report on the experiences with the use of commercial and autologous fibrin glue (AFG) and of an alternative method based on a 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) anchor for the fixation of hydrogel-based scaffolds in an equine model for cartilage repair. In a first study, three different hydrogel-based materials were orthotopically implanted in nine horses for 1-4 weeks in 6 mm diameter full-thickness cartilage defects in the medial femoral trochlear ridge and fixated with commercially available fibrin glue (CFG). One defect was filled with CFG only as a control. In a second study, CFG and ...
Oreff GL, Tatz AJ, Dahan R, Segev G, Berlin D, Kelmer G.To report the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical management of umbilical infection in foals. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Foals (n = 65). Methods: Medical records (2010-2015) of foals up to 1 month of age, surgically treated for an umbilical infection were reviewed. Short-term (at the time of discharge from hospital) and long-term (1 year after surgery) survival rates were obtained. Clinical variables influencing survival were assessed. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the relationship between the data retrieved and outcome. P ≤ .05 was c...
Grzeskowiak RM, Barrett EJ, Rodgerson DH.An 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare with colic unresponsive to medical treatment underwent exploratory laparotomy. During surgery the cecum was found entrapped within the epiploic foramen from left to right. The entrapped cecum was reduced through the foramen by gentle traction. After reduction of the cecum, rupture of the portal vein was detected. Loss of a large amount of blood prompted euthanasia during surgery. Une jument Thoroughbred âgée de 11 ans atteinte de coliques ne répondant pas au traitement médical a subi une laparatomie exploratoire. Durant la chirurgie, le cæcum a été trou...
Comino F, Giusto G, Caramello V, Gandini M.The Serra and Reimer emasculators are frequently used in equine orchiectomy. They differ in jaw profile and the mechanism by which they achieve haemostasis. Objective: To investigate whether the haemostatic capacities of the Reimer and Serra emasculators in open and closed castration differ, to compare the haemostatic capacities of each emasculator in both open and closed castration, and to assess whether the tensile strength of the parietal tunic in closed castration differs according to whether a Reimer or Serra emasculator is used. Methods: Ex vivo randomised study. Methods: Eighty equine c...
Smith HL, Rosenblatt AJ, Suen WW, Owen H, Ahern BJ.A 6-week-old Thoroughbred filly was presented for evaluation of an expansile mass overlying the right nasal passage and causing respiratory stertor. On skull radiographs, there was a loculated, soft tissue-opaque mass identified dorsal to the right upper premolars and effacing the right nasal cavity. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a locally extensive mass with relatively benign characteristics located centrally on the tooth root apices of the deciduous second premolar (506). The mass extended axially into the right nasal cavity, occluding the meatuses and causing displacement of the nasal s...
Vidovic A, Delling U.Coughing and dysphagia have been described following prosthetic laryngoplasty (LP) with or without ventriculectomy/ventriculocordectomy (VE/VCE) for the treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. All previous case descriptions include patients with acute onset of clinical signs after surgery that persisted. The authors observed a late-onset of dysphagia and coughing months to years after LP ± VE/VCE. The condition was always associated with an abnormality of the aryepiglottic fold (AEF). Treatment options for those patients are limited. We suggest augmentation of the AEF as treatment for ...
Bauck AG, Grosche A, Morton AJ, Graham AS, Vickroy TW, Freeman DE.OBJECTIVE To examine effects of continuous rate infusion of lidocaine on transmural neutrophil infiltration in equine intestine subjected to manipulation only and remote to ischemic intestine. ANIMALS 14 healthy horses. PROCEDURES Ventral midline celiotomy was performed (time 0). Mild ischemia was induced in segments of jejunum and large colon. A 1-m segment of jejunum was manipulated by massaging the jejunal wall 10 times. Horses received lidocaine (n = 7) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (7) throughout anesthesia. Biopsy specimens were collected and used to assess tissue injury, neutrophil inf...
Hardefeldt LY, Browning GF, Thursky K, Gilkerson JR, Billman-Jacobe H, Stevenson MA, Bailey KE.Antimicrobials are widely used in Australian veterinary practices, but no investigation into the classes of antimicrobials used, or the appropriateness of use in horses, has been conducted. Objective: The aim of the study was to describe antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in equine practice in Australia. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Methods: An online questionnaire was used to document antimicrobial usage patterns. Information solicited in the questionnaire included demographic details of the respondents, the frequency with which antimicrobials were used for specific ...
Glass K, Watts AE.Many long bone fractures that are not considered repairable in the adult horse are repairable in the foal. This is largely because of reduced patient size and more rapid healing in the foal. When there is no articular communication, the long-term prognosis for athletic function can be very good. Emergency care and transport of the foal with a long bone fracture is different than the adult.
McCarrel TM.Angular limb deformities are common in foals; however, the importance of the deformity and if treatment is required depend on the degree of deformity relative to normal conformation for stage of growth, the breed and discipline expectations, age, and response to conservative therapies. This article addresses the importance of the foal conformation examination to determine which foals need surgical intervention to correct an angular deformity and when. Techniques for surgical growth retardation include the transphyseal staple, screw and wire transphyseal bridge, and transphyseal screw. Appropri...
García-López JM.Angular limb deformities are seen in young foals and are defined as lateral or medial deviations of the limb in the frontal plane distal to a particular joint. Several factors can contribute to the development of an angular limb deformity. Early assessment of the level of ossification of the cuboidal bones is critical to avoid complications long term. Although most deviations self-correct with minimal intervention other than modifications in exercise and hoof trimming, some require surgical intervention in the form of growth acceleration or retardation. This article focuses on growth augmentat...
Ortved KF.Osteochondrosis is common in young, athletic horses. Some lesions respond to conservative therapy. Surgical management is the mainstay of treatment. Arthroscopic debridement is useful in the femoropatellar joint, tarsocrural joint, fetlock joint, and shoulder joint. Debridement is associated with good outcomes, except in the shoulder joint. Osteochondrosis lesions in the elbow may be difficult to access arthroscopically, thereby transosseous debridement. Surgical management of subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle consists of debridement, debridement with grafting, transcond...
Janes JG, Kennedy LA, Garrett KS, Engiles JB.Equine catastrophic skeletal breakdown injury is a serious issue within the racing industry, given the impact on equine and human health. The metacarpo- and metatarso-phalangeal (fetlock) joints are common sites of catastrophic injury. However, lesions involving articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovium are commonly identified within the fetlock of the contralateral limb; hence, it is imperative that lesions in both limbs are evaluated and characterized during postmortem examination. Bone and articular cartilage changes typically occur in specific locations, related to cyclic fetlock...
Smith MRW, Corletto FC, Wright IM.Thirty years have elapsed since the last published review of outcome following fracture of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK and contemporary results are needed to be able to advise of expected outcome. Objective: Collect and analyse outcome data following repair of fractures of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of all Thoroughbred racehorses admitted to Newmarket Equine Hospital for evaluation of a parasagittal fracture of the proximal phalanx during a 5 years period were reviewed. Follo...
Espinosa P, Nieto JE, Estell KE, Kass PH, Aleman M.Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO) is a cause of neurological disease in horses that is characterised by facial and vestibulocochlear nerve deficits. Studies reporting and comparing survival following medical or surgical treatment of THO are lacking. Objective: To compare survival and prognosis in horses with THO treated medically or surgically, and to report surgical complications. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: The medical records of horses diagnosed with THO were retrieved, and data on signalment, clinical signs and duration, corneal ulceration and bilateral occurrence were recorde...
Spugnini EP, Bolaffio C, Scacco L, Baldi A.A twenty-year-old female saddle horse was referred for evaluation of a seven month, non-healing erosive lesion of the right hind hoof with proliferation and bleeding of the underlying soft tissues. This lesion had been twice surgically treated as a canker but rapidly recurred. Histological examination of the second excision revealed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. At presentation, the horse was mildly depressed, lame and partially non-weight-bearing on the right hind leg, which exhibited a 10 x 10 cm erosive and proliferative lesion remodeling the hoof. After completing staging ...
Hassel DM, Smith PA, Nieto JE, Beldomenico P, Spier SJ.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available di-tri-octahedral (DTO) smectite product on clinical signs and prevalence of post-operative diarrhea in horses with colic associated with disease of the large intestine. Sixty-seven horses with surgical disease of the large intestine were randomly assigned to be treated with DTO smectite (n=37; 0.5 kg via nasogastric intubation every 24 h for 3 days post-operatively) or a placebo (n=30). The effect of treatment on fecal scores and clinical and hematological parameters, including heart rate, mucous membrane color, tem...
The objective of this study was to compare effects of butorphanol (BUT) or buprenorphine (BUP), in combination with detomidine and diazepam, on the sedation quality, surgical conditions, and postoperative pain control after cheek tooth extraction in horses, randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups (BUT: = 20; BUP: = 20). A bolus of detomidine (15 μg/kg, IV) was followed by either BUP (7.5 μg/kg, IV) or BUT (0.05 mg/kg, IV). After 20 min, diazepam (0.01 mg/kg, IV) was administered and sedation was maintained with a detomidine IV infusion (20 μg/kg/h), with rate adjusted based on scores to ...
Huppes T, Hermans H, Ensink JM.Implants are often used to improve the cosmetic appearance of horses after enucleation of the eye. When surgical site infection (SSI) occurs, the implant will almost always be lost. The aim of this study is to collect data on the risk factors for SSIs and report long-term follow-up (cosmetic results and return to work) after transpalpebral enucleations. In this retrospective study, records of horses undergoing transpalpebral enucleation were reviewed (2007-2014) and telephone interviews were used to obtain long term follow-up. The potential risk factors for SSIs (indication for enucleation, us...
Whyard JM, Brounts SH.This study compared post-operative complications and survival in horses with right dorsal displacement of the large colon (RDD) and horses with other non-strangulating large colon (NSLC) lesions. Data were obtained from medical records of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy from 2000 to 2016 and from owner questionnaire. Of 137 horses that fitted the inclusion criteria, 67 (49%) had RDD and 70 (51%) had NSLC lesions. Twenty-eight horses with RDD (42%) and 27 horses with NSLC (39%) experienced ≥ 1 complication after surgery. The RDD group showed more severe complications than the NSLC gr...
Norvall A, Cota JG, Pusterla N, Cissell D.Equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are increasingly recognized as a problem for the well-being and performance of horses. Diagnosis is confounded by overlap of clinical signs associated with pathology of the oral cavity, poll, and cervical vertebrae. Arthrocentesis for intra-articular analgesia, sampling of synovial fluid, and medication is needed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Ultrasound features of the normal TMJ and a blind arthrocentesis technique have been described, but a systematic approach to ultrasound-guided (USG) arthrocentesis has not been reported. Ultrasound ...
Andrea CR, Stover SM, Galuppo LD, Taylor KT, Rakestraw PC.To compare screw insertion characteristics and pullout mechanical properties between self-tapping (ST) and non-self-tapping (NST) AO 4.5-mm cortical bone screws in adult equine third metacarpal bone (MC3). Methods: In vitro biomechanical experiment. Methods: Seven pairs of adult equine MC3. Methods: Bicortical holes were drilled transversely in proximal metaphyseal, diaphyseal, and distal metaphyseal locations of paired MC3. NST screws were inserted in pre-tapped holes in 3 sites of one bone pair, and ST screws were inserted in non-tapped holes of contralateral MC3. Tapping and screw insertion...
Gandini M, Cerullo A, Giusto G.Postoperative complications frequently occur following equine colic surgery but there is a lack of consistency in their definitions and reporting. Objective: To perform a scoping review to identify current evidence on the definitions and classifications of postoperative complications in equine colic surgery. Methods: Evidence review. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in CAB, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases using a PCC (Population-equids, Concept-complications, adverse events, sequelae, failure to cure, technical failure, disease progression and Context-postoperative period af...
de Linde Henriksen M, Brooks DE.Standing ophthalmic surgery without general anesthesia allows for several routine ophthalmic procedures including eyelid lacerations and enucleations to be performed in the horse, but does contain increased risk of causing tissue damage arising from the inability to eliminate eye and head movements. Heavy sedation and local nerve blocks of the involved motor and sensory nerves are essential in achieving a good outcome from ophthalmic surgery in the nonanesthetized horse. The inability to use an operating microscope in standing surgery in horses prevents performing precise corneal and intraocul...
Bertone AL, Sullins KE, Stashak TS, Norrdin RW.Preformed collagen gel was topically applied to cutaneous wounds of the equine dorsal fetlock (thoracic limb) and metatarsal regions to evaluate the effect on exuberant granulation tissue production and wound healing. In 6 horses and 3 ponies (less than 140 cm high at the withers and less than 365 kg), 36 standardized cutaneous limb wounds were surgically induced (4 wounds/animal); 18 wounds were treated topically with collagen gel, and 18 wounds were not treated (controls). Collagen gel was initially applied to the wound at 0, 2, or 7 days after wound formation (groups 1, 2, and 3, respective...
Tidwell SA, Schneider RK, Ragle CA, Weil AB, Richter MC.To report complications observed using a hydro-pool recovery system after general anesthesia in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Sixty horses. Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records and quality of recovery from anesthesia of 60 horses that had surgical or diagnostic procedures under general anesthesia. Results: Mean total anesthesia time was 182 minutes (range, 25 to 390 minutes). Mean time in the hydro-pool was 108 minutes (range, 20 to 270 minutes). One horse that had bilateral rear limb extensor weakness while recovering in a padded recovery stall was moved to th...
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...
Bell C, Tatarniuk D, Carmalt J.To describe and evaluate an endoscope-guided balloon sinuplasty technique for dilation of the equine nasomaxillary opening (NMO). Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Equine cadaver heads (n=5); Quarter Horses (n=4). Methods: A custom rigid balloon introducer was passed into position within the NMO at the caudal recess of the middle meatus. Under endoscopic guidance, a balloon catheter was passed via the introducer into the NMO and inflated to 6 atmospheres, for 30 seconds 3 times, to dilate the NMO. Drainage rates after sinuplasty were evaluated for the caudal maxillary sinus in 5 cadaver he...
Robertson SA.Several ocular procedures, including examination, removal of corneal foreign bodies, nictitans surgery, eyelid repair, and tumor excision,can be successfully performed in the appropriately restrained and sedated standing horse. Sedation is best achieved with xylazine,with or without the addition of acepromazine. Additional analgesia can be provided with appropriate local anesthetic blocks. Surgical conditions are greatly improved by using an auriculopalpebral and supraorbital block and topical anesthetics. More elaborate standing sedation involving continuous rate infusions of lidocaine or det...
Craig DR, Pankowski RL, Car BD, Hackett RP, Erb HN.Several surgical alternatives have been described for the management of cecal impaction in the horse, but none has met with consistently successful results. This study was done to evaluate a surgical bypass of the cecum by anastomosis of the ileum to the right ventral colon (ileocolostomy). A ventral midline celiotomy was performed on nine adult ponies (155-350 kg) and a mechanically stapled 10 cm side-to-side ileocolostomy was created. In five ponies a complete cecal bypass (CCB) was created by transecting the ileum distal to the anastomosis. In the other four, an incomplete cecal bypass (ICB...
Nixon AJ, Schachter BL, Pool RR.To determine the clinical, radiographic, ultrasonographic, and arthroscopic findings associated with tenosynovitis of the carpal synovial sheath induced by exostoses that originate from the caudal surface of the physeal scar of the distal radius and determine the results of surgical removal of those exostoses in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 10 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses with effusion in the carpal synovial sheath and lameness evaluated from 1999 to 2003 were examined. Results: All horses had a history of intermittent mild to moderate effusion of the carpal syn...
Boys Smith SJ, Clegg PD, Hughes I, Singer ER.There are no data on the frequency of post operative complications following keratoma removal, such as recurrence, hoof wall instability and excessive granulation tissue formation, or their relation to the method of surgical removal. Objective: To identify important factors in the outcome for horses undergoing surgical removal of a keratoma and compare the post operative complications encountered following keratoma removal by complete hoof wall resection (CR) and partial hoof wall resection (PR). Objective: Horses undergoing PR would have fewer post operative complications and would return to ...
Verhaar N, de Buhr N, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Pfarrer C, Mazzuoli-Weber G, Schulte H, Kästner S.Ischaemic postconditioning (IPoC) refers to brief periods of reocclusion of blood supply following an ischaemic event. This has been shown to ameliorate ischaemia reperfusion injury in different tissues, and it may represent a feasible therapeutic strategy for ischaemia reperfusion injury following strangulating small intestinal lesions in horses. The objective of this study was to assess the degree cell death, inflammation, oxidative stress, and heat shock response in an equine experimental jejunal ischaemia model with and without IPoC. Methods: In this randomized, controlled, experimental in...
Vachon AM, McIlwraith CW, Keeley FW.Periosteal autografts were used for repair of large osteochondral defects in 10 horses aged 2 to 3 years old. In each horse, osteochondral defects measuring 1.0 x 1.0 cm2 were induced bilaterally on the distal articular surface of each radial carpal bone. Control and experimental defects were drilled. Periosteum was harvested from the proximal portion of the tibia and was glued into the principal defects, using a fibrin adhesive. Control defects were glued, but were not grafted. Sixteen weeks after the grafting procedure, the quality of the repair tissue of control and grafted defects was asse...
Wyn-Jones G.The treatment of equine cutaneous tumours by conventional or cryosurgical techniques can be limited where the position of the tumour makes radical excision or freezing impractical or dangerous. Radiotherapy provides an effective and practical alternative. The use of iridium pins with guide needles allows accurate positioning of sources and uniform radiation fields to be achieved. The subsequent removal of the pins reduces the period of incapacity and reduces the radiation risk when compared to permanently implanted sources. Twenty-seven tumours on 26 horses were treated by this method with a 1...
Ross MW, Donawick WJ, Sellers AF, Lowe JE.To study the normal motility of the cecum and right ventral colon (RVC) in 3 mature Shetland ponies, a 6-part, indwelling, intraluminal catheter system was used to measure intraluminal pressure changes. Three catheters were placed in the cecum at 10, 25, and 40 cm from the cecocolic orifice, and 3 catheters were placed in the RVC at 10, 20, and 30 cm from the cecocolic orifice. Recordings were made during the interdigestive period beginning 2 weeks after surgical operation was done. Frequent, low-amplitude peaks (0.35 +/- 0.13 coordinated peaks/min) were seen involving the cecal body and cauda...
Miller RI, Wold D, Lindsay WA, Beadle RE, McClure JJ, McClure JR, McCoy DJ.Five horses with pythiosis of the limbs were treated unsuccessfully by surgery or topical application of amphotericin B, or both. Follow-up immunotherapy resulted in 1 horse responding favorably. Three horses were cured of the fungal infection but developed osteitis or deep-seated laminitis, which necessitated their destruction. The remaining horse, which had severe anemia, died before the course of vaccination was completed.
Di Salvo A, Giorgi M, Nannarone S, Lee HK, Corsalini J, Della Rocca G.NSAIDs are often used in horses with colic syndrome during the postoperative period, due to their ability to contrast endotoxemia and to promote an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. As the pharmacokinetics of a drug are often modified in unhealthy animals compared to healthy subjects, the aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of meloxicam after i.v. administration in horses undergoing laparotomy for colic syndrome. Eight horses received 0.6 mg/kg of meloxicam i.v. towards the end of surgery. Blood samples were taken at scheduled time points during the following 2...
Findley JA, De Oliveira F, Bladon B.To determine typical clinical features associated with tears of the manica flexoria (MF) and prognosis for return to athletic function after surgical resection. Methods: Case series. Methods: Medical records (January 2001-December 2011) of horses that underwent tenoscopic surgical treatment of MF tears were reviewed and outcome obtained by telephone questionnaire of owners. Results: Fifty three horses (65 MF tears) were treated; 83% were cobs or ponies. Injuries occurred more frequently in hindlimbs (85%) and effusion of the digital flexor tendon sheath was associated with all MF tears. Follow...
Okamoto Y, Minami S, Matsuhashi A, Sashiwa H, Saimoto H, Shigemasa Y, Tanigawa T, Tanaka Y, Tokura S.The sponge-, cotton-, and flake-type remedies made of chitin (chitin-sponge, chitin-cotton, and chitin-flake, respectively), and non-woven fabric of polyester (NWF) composited with chitin (chitin-NWF) were applied to various types of trauma, abscess, surgical tissue defect and herniorrhaphy in 147 clinical cases including 72 dogs, 38 cows, 33 cats, 2 rabbits, one monkey and one horse. Chitin-sponge was applied in 30 cases as filling agent of surgical tissue defect, and in 25 cases of trauma, 31 cases of abscess as wound dressing or tissue defect filling agent. In 77 out of 86 cases (89.5%), go...
Rickert M, Rauschmann M, Fleege C, Behrbalk E, Harms J.The development of interbody fusion now stretches over many decades and is still not complete. Conclusions: Due to the lack of appropriate implants, the initial fusions were performed via decortication of the dorsal and lateral structures of the spine, followed by placement of an autograft. Despite acceptable fusion results, better primary stability and higher fusion rates were desired. In addition, it became known that the primary load-bearing of the spine is located ventrally in the area of the corpus of the vertebrae. These considerations led to the development of the PLIF technique that wa...
Parry BW, Gay CC, Anderson GA.The present study retrospectively examined clinical and clinicopathological findings in horses with colic to determine which variables distinguished between medically treatable cases and cases which required surgical intervention. Heart rate, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, blood erythrocyte count, frequency of borborygmi and degree of mental depression showed the greatest differences (P less than 0.001) between medical and surgical groups. However, some variables which primarily evaluated cardiovascular function, ie, blood pressure, oral mucosal capillary refill time and blood lactate...
Brandenberger O, Rossignol F, Perkins JD, Lechartier A, Mespoulhès-Rivière C, Vitte A, Rossignol A, Ducharme N, Boening KJ.To determine the biomechanical properties of 5 suture constructs in the equine cricoid under cyclic loading and load to failure testing. Methods: Ex vivo study. Methods: Seventy-five equine cadaver larynges. Methods: Each larynx was implanted with 1 of 5 cricoid-suture constructs. The standard laryngoplasty, where a suture is passed once through the cricoid, including its caudal edge, was used in 2 constructs: 1 with 5 USP Ethibond (ES) and 1 with 2 mm Fibertape (FS). In the third construct, the 2 mm Fibertape was passed twice through the cricoid including its caudal edge (Double Loop-DL). Con...
Coleridge M, Gillen AM, Farag R, Hanson RR, Munsterman AS.To investigate the knot holding capacity (KHC) of pattern-ending square, surgeon's and Aberdeen knots each tied in 4 throw combinations using large gauge suture after exposure to media commonly found in equine abdominal surgery. Methods: In vitro mechanical study. Methods: Knotted suture strands (n = 10/group). Methods: Strands of 2 polydioxanone or 3 polyglactin 910 were exposed to 1 of 4 media for 15 minutes. Control suture strands remained dry. Media used included balanced electrolyte solution, 1% sodium carboxymethylcellulose, equine serum, or equine fat. Pattern-ending knots for the 3...
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...
Archer DC, Freeman DE, Doyle AJ, Proudman CJ, Edwards GB.To determine whether there was an association between a history of cribbing and epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) of the small intestine in horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 68 horses examined at the University of Illinois or the University of Liverpool veterinary teaching hospitals. Methods: For horses examined at the University of Illinois that underwent surgery because of strangulating small intestine lesions, information about cribbing was obtained through telephone calls with owners. For horses examined at the University of Liverpool that underwent surgery for colic for any r...
