Rostral mandibulectomy in five horses.

The research article explores the use of a surgical procedure called rostral mandibulectomy in treating mandibular tumors in horses. The study involves five horses that successfully underwent the procedure, exhibiting good outcomes for function and appearance, with no surgical complications or tumor recurrences.

Procedure: Rostral Mandibulectomy

• The utilized technique is named rostral mandibulectomy and is performed primarily to deal with rapidly growing or bleeding mandibular tumors in horses. This surgery involves the removal of a portion of the mandible, specifically the rostral (frontward) part.
• Notably, the surgical procedure put emphasis on preserving the most caudal (rearward) portion of the mandibular symphysis (the line of union in the middle of the symmetrical halves of the mandible), to maintain stability post operation. This strategy assures minimal interference with normal routines and activities of the horses.

Research Findings

• The procedure was performed on five horses, all of whom were suffering from mandibular tumors. The results revealed no surgical complications, confirming the safety and effectiveness of the technique.
• Furthermore, there were no reports of recurring tumors, highlighting the technique’s efficiency in completely removing the mandibular tumors and preventing their reemergence.
• Post-surgery condition of the horses revealed good cosmetic and functional results, which implies that the surgery did not significantly affect the physical appearance and normal functioning of the horses.

Conclusion and Implications

• All the tumors removed were diagnosed as ossifying fibroma, a benign, slow-growing tumor usually affecting the bones of the jaw and sinuses. This suggests that the method is particularly effective for this type of tumour.
• The results of the study point to rostral mandibulectomy as a simple and effective method of treating tumors in the rostral portion of the mandible in horses. Therefore, it could potentially be incorporated into standard surgical practices for similar cases in the future.