A multicentre study of long-term follow-up and owner satisfaction following enucleation in horses.

This research study investigates the health and performance outcomes of horses after undergoing a surgical procedure called enucleation, or eye removal, due to an ocular disease. The study found that most horses returned to their previous or even higher level of work following the procedure, with maximum owner satisfaction.

Research Purpose and Methodology

• The study primarily aimed to test two hypotheses: whether horses can return to their previous work level after an enucleation and if the owners are satisfied with the post-surgery outcome.
• The researchers carried out their study retrospectively by analyzing clinical records from eight equine referral centres across the United Kingdom for horses that underwent enucleation from August 2006 to March 2015.
• To collate a rounded picture and gage owner sentiments, questionnaires were sent to the owners of these horses. These surveys aimed to confirm the information present in the medical records and to understand the perceptions of the owners.

Key Findings

• A total of 170 cases were identified, and 119 questionnaires were completed by the horse owners.
• The range of disciplines the horses were involved in was quite wide, including leisure riding, showjumping, dressage, and competition horses. Interestingly, post-enucleation, 77.3% of the horses were performing at the same or higher level than before, including 60% of competition horses.
• Post-surgery complications were reported in a small number of cases, including minor swelling at the surgical site and nonocular complications.
• From the owner’s perspective, most concerns prior to surgery were not a significant issue after the operation. A high percentage (90.8%) of owners expressed satisfaction with the surgical outcome, and many wished they had opted for the procedure sooner.

Research Limitations and Conclusion

• The study acknowledged potential limitations, such as the retrospective nature of the data collection and the possible impact of recall bias on the data gathered through questionnaires.
• Despite these limitations, the study provides strong evidence that post-enucleation, horses can indeed recover well and return to their various disciplines. Furthermore, it showcases that owners were largely satisfied with the surgical outcomes, which may aid future decision-making in treating horses with ocular diseases.