Complications of cleft palate repair in large animals.
Abstract: Seven foals, 2 horses, and 2 calves were presented to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at New Bolton Center and the Large Animal Clinic at Auburn University for surgical repair of cleft palate. All animals had preexisting pneumonia. Initial repair of cleft palate in 6 foals, 2 horses, and 2 calves was performed via mandibular symphysiotomy. Primary repair of cleft soft palate in a foal was attempted through a pharyngotomy incision after fracture of the basal hyoid bone; however, exposure was inadequate and mandibular symphysiotomy had to be done. Dehiscence of a portion of the cleft palate occurred in all cases (10 of 11) that survived the immediate postoperative period. A 2nd repair was attempted in 3 foals; however, dehiscence of the palate recurred. Osteomyelitis of the mandibular symphysis developed in 6 animals; dehiscence of the lower lip occurred in 3 animals. Serious complications after surgery led to euthanasia or death of 5 animals. Of the 6 surviving animals, 4 did not grow normally. All survivors experienced chronic nasal discharge often contaminated with food material. Although mandibular symphysiotomy provided adequate exposure for surgical repair of cleft palate, serious complications have not been overcome.
Publication Date: 1982-03-15 PubMed ID: 7068506
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Summary
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This research article discusses the complications encountered during surgical repair of cleft palate in large animals including foals, horses, and calves. Despite the surgery, all animals experienced recurring issues and several serious complications, highlighting that current surgical methods are insufficient.
Study Population and Procedure
- The study involved seven foals, two adult horses, and two calves that were taken to veterinary hospitals at New Bolton Center and Auburn University for surgical treatment of cleft palate.
- All these animals had a pre-existing condition of pneumonia.
- The research aimed to investigate and study the complications arising from surgical repair of the cleft palate in these large animals.
Primary Surgery and Complications
- Initial repair was performed via a procedure called mandibular symphysiotomy on six of the foals, two of the horses, and two of the calves.
- In one of the foals, another method involving a pharyngotomy incision after fracturing the basal hyoid bone was attempted, but eventually, mandibular symphysiotomy was used because the initial approach didn’t offer adequate exposure.
- All animals experienced dehiscence (splitting or rupture of the wound) in a section of the cleft palate after the primary surgery.
Secondary Surgeries and Postoperative Complications
- An attempt to conduct a second repair operation was made on three foals, but each time the cleft palate dehiscence returned.
- In addition, post-surgery complications like osteomyelitis (infection) in the mandibular symphysis occurred in six animals and dehiscence of the lower lip happened in three animals.
- Unfortunately, five animals had to be euthanized or died due to these serious postoperative complications.
- Of the six animals that managed to survive, four had inhibited growth and all had persistent issues like chronic nasal discharge often contaminated with food material.
Conclusion
- The conclusion of this study was that despite providing adequate exposure for surgical repair of cleft palate, the significant complications post the mandibular symphysiotomy procedure have not been overcome.
- This signifies the need for more advanced surgical procedures or better post-surgery care and management for large animals, to avoid such complications and increase survival rates.
Cite This Article
APA
Bowman KF, Tate LP, Evans LH, Donawick WJ.
(1982).
Complications of cleft palate repair in large animals.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 180(6), 652-657.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Cattle Diseases / epidemiology
- Cattle Diseases / surgery
- Cleft Palate / epidemiology
- Cleft Palate / surgery
- Cleft Palate / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Surgical Wound Dehiscence / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Yoshida S, Takeyama A, Tagami M, Gao Y, Tsogtgerel M, Kobayashi Y, Watanabe K, Nambo Y. A case of a newborn Kiso native pony diagnosed with a median hard cleft palate and urachal hypoplasia. J Equine Sci 2025;36(1):25-31.
- Shaw SD, Norman TE, Arnold CE, Coleman MC. Clinical characteristics of horses and foals diagnosed with cleft palate in a referral population: 28 cases (1988-2011). Can Vet J 2015 Jul;56(7):756-60.
- Carstanjen B, Desbois C, Hekmati M, Behr L. Successful engraftment of cultured autologous mesenchymal stem cells in a surgically repaired soft palate defect in an adult horse. Can J Vet Res 2006 Apr;70(2):143-7.
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