Analyze Diet
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2005; 21(1); 191-215; doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2004.11.010

Management of neck and head injuries.

Abstract: The horse, a flight animal that is used extensively by man, frequently receives injuries to its neck or head that result mostly from its management and handling. Better facilities, training of the horse, and horsemanship skills of the handler could prevent many of these injuries. Because many body systems can be involved, with potentially major consequences regarding health, performance, and appearance, early recognition of trauma and competent treatment are crucial. Progress has been made in the treatment of some tracheal and esophageal injuries. Severe tracheal trauma and rupture of the esophagus still represent major challenges for the attending veterinarian, however. Lacerations of the head generally heal well, likely because of an abundant blood supply. Thorough yet conservative debridement is necessary, as is accurate reconstruction of the tissues to maintain normal function and an acceptable cosmetic appearance. Fractures of the facial bones can result in complications, such as sequestrum formation, sinusitis, nasolacrimal duct injury,facial deformity, and injury to or entrapment of the globe. An awareness of the treatment methods available can help to diminish the complication rate and to restore a normal or acceptable appearance.
Publication Date: 2005-02-05 PubMed ID: 15691607DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2004.11.010Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
  • Journal Article
  • Review

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.

This research article discusses the frequent injuries to the heads and necks of horses due to handling and management and emphasizes the importance of early trauma recognition and effective treatment. It also gives a study on the progress in treatment of certain injuries while identifying major challenges faced by veterinarians.

Understanding The Problem And Its Prevention

  • The article starts by outlining the challenges faced by horses, a highly used animal by human beings. The study explains how horses often sustain injuries to their heads and necks, primarily due to the way they’re handled and managed.
  • It suggests that improved facilities, enhanced horse training and elevated horsemanship skills can significantly reduce the instances of these injuries.

Importance Of Early Trauma Recognition And Treatment

  • The paper highlights the importance of recognizing trauma early and proceeding with effective treatment. This is emphasised due to the potential impact on a horse’s health, performance and appearance.
  • The study asserts that many body systems could be affected by these injuries, therefore treatment is crucial and cannot be delayed.

Progresses Made

  • Successes achieved in the treatment of some tracheal and esophageal injuries are noted. These are injury types that are common, needing attention and development of effective treatment methods.
  • Nevertheless, the paper points out challenges in dealing with severe tracheal traumas and ruptures of the esophagus.

Dealing With Facial Injuries

  • The article explains how lacerations on the head usually heal well because of an abundant blood supply. Though, it is essential to apply thorough yet measured surgical cleaning and tissue reconstruction to maintain the normal function and to achieve an acceptable cosmetic appearance.
  • The potential complications of facial bone fractures are outlined, which can cause several complications, for example, sequestrum formation, sinusitis, nasolacrimal duct injury, facial deformity and eye injuries.
  • In conclusion, being aware and knowledgeable about the available treatment options can help to lower the complication rate and to restore a normal or acceptable appearance in horses. The call is to veterinary practitioners to stay alert on advances as well as potential challenges in this field.

Cite This Article

APA
Barber SM. (2005). Management of neck and head injuries. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 21(1), 191-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2004.11.010

Publication

ISSN: 0749-0739
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 21
Issue: 1
Pages: 191-215

Researcher Affiliations

Barber, Spencer M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B4. spence.barber@usask.ca

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / surgery
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / therapy
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / veterinary
  • Facial Bones / anatomy & histology
  • Facial Injuries / surgery
  • Facial Injuries / therapy
  • Facial Injuries / veterinary
  • Horses / injuries
  • Neck Injuries / surgery
  • Neck Injuries / therapy
  • Neck Injuries / veterinary
  • Treatment Outcome

References

This article includes 54 references

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Lang HM, Panizzi L, Smyth TT, Plaxton AE, Lohmann KL, Barber SM. Management and long-term outcome of partial glossectomy in 2 horses. Can Vet J 2014 Mar;55(3):263-7.
    pubmed: 24587510