Extensive nasal septum resection in horses using a 3-wire method.

The research article describes a surgical method for removing a large part of the nasal septum in horses affected by septal diseases, using what is known as a ‘3-wire method’. This technique was found to be technically straightforward, safe, and effective, allowing most treated horses to return to their normal function.

Surgical Method and Procedure

• The research evaluated a new method for the surgical procedure of removing the nasal septum (the bone and cartilage partition between the two nostrils) in horses with abnormal septal conditions. These conditions could be congenital (present from birth) or acquired.
• Five horses with nasal septal deformities participated in the study. They were given general anesthesia before the surgery.
• The surgical technique involved using obstetrical wires, essentially guiding them around the nasal septum’s ventral, caudal, and dorsal aspects. This placement was achieved via manual guidance and a ‘trephine hole’, a circular cutting tool used for removing a circular piece of bone from the skull.
• These preplaced wires were used to make incisions on the ventral, dorsal, and caudal septal regions, together with a scalpel for the final rostral area cut (near the tip of the snout). After the septum was removed, the horse’s nasal cavity was packed to facilitate healing.
• A temporary tracheotomy (airway opening in the throat) was performed to protect the animal’s ability to breathe while the nasal cavity healed.

Results and Conclusions

• The ‘3-wire method’ effectively removed the entirety of each horse’s diseased nasal septum without causing substantial disruption to their breathing capacity. Furthermore, it was possible to angle the incisions so that the remaining septum posed minimum interference to nasal airflow.
• Outcomes were largely positive: four of the five horses healed, resuming their intended use despite minor residual respiratory noise during exercise. However, one horse retired from race training some 13 months post-surgery due to persistent exercise intolerance at high speed, despite two subsequent surgeries.
• Overall, the study concluded that the 3-wire method for resecting the nasal septum in horses is a safe, easy, and potentially effective alternative to traditional techniques. The method also resulted in an excellent cosmetic appearance.