Cryoneurectomy in the horse.

This research investigated the effects of cryoneurectomy, a freezing process, on the digital plantar nerves of horses in order to assess regeneration and neuroma formation, further applying the procedure to horses with specific health conditions that required neurectomy.

Introduction and Methodology

• The researchers carried out an experiment using cryoneurectomy on the digital plantar nerves of 10 healthy horses.
• The nerves were subjected to a chill of -30°C, specifically done in two freeze-thaw cycles.
• The process was evaluated at different intervals: ten days, and 4, 12, 16, and 24 weeks. The collected nerves were checked histologically to identify any signs of regeneration.

Results

• The terminal portion of the transected nerves, which were treated with cryosurgery, showed no signs of regeneration or neuroma formation during these periods.
• The research was then expanded and applied to 101 nerves from 32 horses suffering from diseases that necessitated a neurectomy.
• Seeing that 27 of these nerves had previously undergone neurectomy, painful neuromas had developed.
• After executing the cryoneurectomy, the neuroma formation was noted to be 15% in this particular group. Additionally, only 4% neuroma formation was detected in the nerves that had not undergone neurectomy prior to the cryoneurectomy.
• One horse developed neuritis which lasted for 10 days.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that cryoneurectomy could be an effective approach for nerve treatment in horses, showing a decrease in neuroma formation, especially in previously neurectomized nerves.
• This points towards the possible application of cryoneurectomy as an alternative solution to traditional neurectomy.