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Veterinary sciences2022; 9(7); 365; doi: 10.3390/vetsci9070365

Equine Suture Exostosis: A Review of Cases from a Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Abstract: Suture exostosis is an intriguing and not uncommon pathology that has to be included in the differential diagnosis for horses with swelling of the head. Although several singular case reports have been published, no large case series is available. The aim of this study is to report a multicentric retrospective collection of suture exostosis cases. Data concerning horses with suture exostosis in the facial region were collected retrospectively. Information regarding breed, age, gender, history, imaging findings, initiated treatment, response to treatment and follow up was recorded. One hundred and five cases of various breeds were reported. Analysis revealed the cases could be grouped into four entities: 45 developed following sino-nasal surgery, 23 following trauma, seven with underlying sinus pathology and 25 idiopathic. Treatment consisted of sequestra removal, plate fixation, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs or no treatment. Whereas initial localized pain fades within few days or weeks, resolution or reduction of the swelling was obtained in most cases after 3 months to 1.5 years. The etiopathogenesis of suture exostosis seems to consist of different entities. Identification of an underlying cause, particularly the presence of a bone sequester and infection is important to speed up resolution and before concluding an idiopathic case. When performing sinusotomies, it is important to provide as little trauma as possible to the surgical site in order to prevent suture exostosis as a complication.
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Publication Date: 2022-07-17 PubMed ID: 35878382PubMed Central: PMC9318223DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9070365Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article presents a review of multiple cases of an unusual pathology in horses, namely suture exostosis, a condition where there is abnormal bone growth around the edges of a suture. The aim of the study was to gather data from a large number of cases, analyze the various factors associated with the condition, evaluate the response to different treatments, and inform the prevention of suture exostosis in horses.

Purpose of the Study

  • The main objective of the research was to accumulate and analyze a large series of suture exostosis cases in horses. Previously, only individual case reports have been published. This study aimed to provide more comprehensive information regarding the condition.

Data Collection

  • The paper details that data was retrospectively collected focusing on horses with suture exostosis in the facial region. Information related to breed, age, gender, medical history, diagnostic findings, applied treatment options, the response to the treatment, and follow-up were recorded.
  • 105 cases involving various horse breeds were reported and examined in this study.

Analysis and Findings

  • The analysis of the cases revealed that they could be classified into four categories: 45 cases developed after sino-nasal surgery, 23 occurred post-trauma, seven had underlying sinus pathology, and 25 were idiopathic i.e., without an identifiable cause.
  • Several treatments were used, including removal of the sequestra (small pieces of dead bone separated from healthy bone), plate fixation, and use of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Some cases did not receive any treatment.
  • The paper notes that while the initial localized pain usually subsides within a few days or weeks, the majority of the cases showed reduction or complete resolution of the swelling within 3 months to 1.5 years.

Conclusions

  • The researchers conclude that the pathology of suture exostosis is multifaceted with different underlying causes. Detecting an underlying cause, specifically the presence of a bone sequester and infection, is crucial for a quicker resolution.
  • The study warns that when doing sinus surgeries on horses, it is important to avoid inflicting unnecessary trauma to the surgical site to prevent suture exostosis from developing as a complication.

Cite This Article

APA
Verwilghen D, Easley J, Zwick T, Uhlhorn M, Grulke S, Simhofer H, Townsend N, Liyou O, Bodeus F, Zani DD, Vlaminck L, Pearce C, Staszyk C, Bienert-Zeit A. (2022). Equine Suture Exostosis: A Review of Cases from a Multicenter Retrospective Study. Vet Sci, 9(7), 365. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070365

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 7
PII: 365

Researcher Affiliations

Verwilghen, Denis
  • Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
  • Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
Easley, Jack
  • Easley Equine Dentistry, Shelbyville, KY 40065, USA.
Zwick, Timo
  • Equine Clinic Gessertshausen, 86459 Gessertshausen, Germany.
Uhlhorn, Maggy
  • Imaging Department, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75105 Uppsala, Sweden.
Grulke, Sigrid
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium.
Simhofer, Hubert
  • Equine-Vets, 2371 Hinterbruhl, Austria.
Townsend, Neil
  • Three Counties Equine Hospital, Stratford Bridge, Ripple, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire WR13 6NW, UK.
Liyou, Oliver
  • Equine Veterinary Dental Services, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
Bodeus, Fabrice
  • Centre Vétérinaire des Templiers, 6460 Chimay, Belgium.
Zani, Davide Danilo
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Vlaminck, Lieven
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gent, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Pearce, Chris
  • Equine Dental Clinic, Dorset WR13 6NW, UK.
Staszyk, Carsten
  • Institute of Veterinary-Anatomy, -Histology and -Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 98, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
Bienert-Zeit, Astrid
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
    doi: 10.1111/avj.70003pubmed: 40903020google scholar: lookup
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