Long-term outcome of tooth repulsion in horses. A retrospective study of 61 cases.
Abstract: The records of 61 horses undergoing tooth repulsion for treatment of alveolar periostitis were reviewed. Seventeen of 36 horses (47%) in which maxillary teeth were removed had serious postoperative complications, such as infection of a second tooth, bone sequestration, chronic sinusitis, draining tracts, retained dental packing, feed impaction of the alveolus or sinus, suture-line dehiscence, or skin-flap sloughs. Eight horses required at least one additional surgical procedure. Eight of 25 horses (32%) in which mandibular teeth were removed had serious postoperative complications, and four horses required an additional surgical procedure. Hospitalization lasted 2 to 61 days (median, 22 days) for maxillary teeth and 3 to 35 days (median, 8 days) for mandibular teeth. Long-term follow-up (at least 5 months) was possible in 47 horses. Twenty-four of 30 horses (80%) with maxillary tooth repulsion healed without further problems; six horses had persistent nasal discharge. Fourteen of 17 horses (82%) with mandibular tooth repulsion healed with no further problems or with only minor complications; three horses had a chronic draining tract.
Publication Date: 1992-03-01 PubMed ID: 1626385DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1992.tb00033.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Case Reports
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Complications
- Dental Health
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Hospitalization
- Longitudinal Study
- Post-Operative Period
- Retrospective Study
- Surgery
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Procedure
Summary
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This study analyzes the long-term outcomes of a type of equine dental surgery called tooth repulsion, based on a review of 61 patient cases. The results indicate that noticeable postoperative complications occurred in a significant number of the cases and that recovery times varied, but the majority of follow-up cases showed positive healing outcomes.
Objective and Methodology
- The research focused on examining the long-term results of horse tooth repulsion, a treatment option for alveolar periostitis -a dental disease in horses.
- The study is retrospective in nature and reviews the records of 61 horses that have undergone the procedure.
Findings on Maxillary Tooth Removal
- Out of 36 horses that had maxillary teeth (located in the upper jaw) removed, 17 (47%) experienced serious postoperative complications.
- These complications included infection of another tooth, bone sequestration (isolating a segment of bone from blood supply), chronic sinusitis, draining tracts (lesions), retained dental packing, feed impaction in the alveolus or sinus, suture-line dehiscence (a surgical complication where the wound ruptures along a surgical suture), or skin-flap sloughs (loss of skin).
- Eight of these horses needed at least one additional surgical procedure.
- Hospitalization time ranged from 2 to 61 days with a median of 22 days.
Findings on Mandibular Tooth Removal
- From the 25 horses that had mandibular teeth (located in the lower jaw) removed, eight (32%) encountered serious postoperative complications.
- Four of these horses required an additional surgical operation.
- The hospitalization period for these cases lasted between 3 to 35 days, with a median of 8 days.
Long-Term Follow-Up Findings
- A long-term follow-up (at least 5 months post-surgery) was possible for 47 horses.
- Of the 30 horses that had maxillary tooth repulsion, 24 (80%) healed without additional problems, while six horses had persistent nasal discharge.
- Out of 17 horses that went through mandibular tooth repulsion, 14 (82%) healed without major issues or only with minor complications. Three horses, however, developed a chronic draining tract.
Conclusion
- The study provides valuable insights about significant risks of postoperative complications and the varied recovery times after tooth repulsion in horses.
- Despite these complications, the majority of both maxillary and mandibular tooth repulsion cases displayed positive long-term healing outcomes.
Cite This Article
APA
Prichard MA, Hackett RP, Erb HN.
(1992).
Long-term outcome of tooth repulsion in horses. A retrospective study of 61 cases.
Vet Surg, 21(2), 145-149.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1992.tb00033.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dry Socket / surgery
- Dry Socket / veterinary
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Intraoperative Complications / etiology
- Intraoperative Complications / veterinary
- Male
- Mandible
- Maxilla
- Postoperative Complications / etiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Tooth Extraction / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Klopfenstein Bregger MD, de Preux M, Brünisholz HP, Van der Vekens E, Schweizer D, Koch C. Cheek tooth repulsion aided by computer-assisted surgery in 16 equids. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1571539.
- Ferreira JD, Méndez-Angulo JL. Corkscrew Technique for Extraction of Premolars and Molars in Standing Sedated Horses: Cadaveric Study and Clinical Cases. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 11;14(10).
- Leps A, Korsos S, Clarysse M, Vlaminck L. Dental sectioning for intraoral equine cheek teeth extractions: 29 cases. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1367861.
- Kau S, Mansfeld MD, Šoba A, Zwick T, Staszyk C. The facultative human oral pathogen Prevotella histicola in equine cheek tooth apical/ periapical infection: a case report. BMC Vet Res 2021 Oct 30;17(1):343.
- Gordon DL, Radtke CL. Treatment of chronic sinusitis in a horse with systemic and intra-sinus antimicrobials. Can Vet J 2017 Mar;58(3):289-292.
- Marqués FJ, Sharma A, Wilson DG. Investigation of a progressive facial deformity and stridor in an adult horse with a bone sequestrum and subsequent sinonasal abscess. Can Vet J 2012 Jun;53(6):653-8.
- Boutros CP, Koenig JB. A combined frontal and maxillary sinus approach for repulsion of the third maxillary molar in a horse. Can Vet J 2001 Apr;42(4):286-8.
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