A single caudally based frontonasal bone flap for treatment of bilateral mucocele in the paranasal sinuses of an American miniature horse.

This research article reports successful surgical treatment of bilateral mucocele, a mucous-filled cyst in the paranasal sinuses, in a miniature horse using a single bone flap.

Objective and Method

• The objective was to describe a surgical method for treating bilateral mucocele in miniature horses, with a focus on its effectiveness. The surgical subject was a neutered 6-year-old American Miniature Horse suffering from bilateral mucocele of the paranasal sinuses.
• The procedure, conducted while the horse was standing, involved the use of a single bilateral frontonasal sinus flap. This flap provided simultaneous access to both the left and right conchofrontal sinus, the cleft-like space formed by the frontal and nasal conchae bones, to remove the mucous-filled cysts and establish a permanent drainage into the nasal cavities.

Results

• The novel procedure used in this case study showed excellent results, providing simultaneous access to both right and left paranasal sinuses successfully. This method completely resolved the horse’s nasal discharge and breathing difficulty.

Conclusions

• The single, bilateral frontonasal sinus flap procedure was successful as a standing procedure in treating bilateral sinonasal disease in horses. Based on the case study, the researchers concluded that this method can be effectively employed to treat similar cases in horses.

Without using highly technical language, this research paper signifies a novel, accessible, and effective surgical technique for the treatment of bilateral mucocele in horses, which can greatly influence veterinary surgical practices.