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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Standing excision of the nasal septum of 12 horses.
Veterinary surgery : VS2025; 55(1); 110-117; doi: 10.1111/vsu.70049

Standing excision of the nasal septum of 12 horses.

Abstract: To describe the technique of and complications associated with excising the nasal septum of horses with the horse standing and to report the outcome of horses undergoing this procedure. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of Twelve horses affected with disease of the nasal septum. Methods: The septum of each horse was excised with the horse sedated. All horses underwent rhinotomy, and six also underwent laryngotomy, to position three loops of obstetrical wire used to make three of four septal incisions. The sites of laryngotomy and rhinotomy were desensitized by infiltrating local anesthetic subcutaneously at the sites of incision. The septum of all horses was desensitized topically by instilling local anesthetic into both nasal passages. The septum of 11 horses was desensitized by also anesthetizing the maxillary nerves and, for three of these 11, local anesthetic was instilled beneath the septal submucosa at the site of rhinotomy. Results: The septum of each horse was resected safely. The hemorrhage observed at surgery appeared subjectively to be less than that observed when the same surgery is performed with the horse recumbent. A total of Eleven horses returned to their original and intended use, and one died, presumably from a complication associated with a maxillary nerve block. Conclusions: The nasal septum can be excised safely with the horse standing by using sedation and topical, local, and regional anesthesia. Conclusions: Removing the nasal septum with the horse standing eliminates the expense and risks associated with general anesthesia.
© 2025 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2025-10-30 PubMed ID: 41165095DOI: 10.1111/vsu.70049Google Scholar: Lookup
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APA
Brink P, Schumacher J, Ducharme NG, Caniglia CJ, Caruso MA, Ortved K. (2025). Standing excision of the nasal septum of 12 horses. Vet Surg, 55(1), 110-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.70049

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 1
Pages: 110-117

Researcher Affiliations

Brink, Palle
  • Jagersro Equine Clinic, Malmo, Sweden.
Schumacher, James
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
Ducharme, Norm G
  • Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialist, Cornell University, Elmont, New York, USA.
Caniglia, Christopher J
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
Caruso, Michael A
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
Ortved, Kyla
  • Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialist, Cornell University, Elmont, New York, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Nasal Septum / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Female
  • Male
  • Nose Diseases / surgery
  • Nose Diseases / veterinary
  • Treatment Outcome

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