Standing surgery and procedures of the head.

The given research article focuses on the feasibility and implications of performing surgical procedures on horses while they stand, specifically those involving their head regions. It discusses factors that determine the choice between general anesthesia and standing positions during surgery, anatomical considerations, and potential consequences of untreated traumatic injuries. It also highlights some specific surgeries that can be performed on a standing horse.

Choosing between General Anesthesia and Standing Procedures

• The paper emphasizes that while surgeries related to the horse’s head can be easier with the horse under general anesthesia, various factors might make a standing surgical procedure more suitable. It leaves a decisional space for medical professionals to consider the horse’s specific condition, the type of surgery to be performed, and the availability of suitable restraint measures.

Advantages of Standing Surgical Procedures

• The accessibility of the horse’s head enhances the feasibility of standing surgical procedures, provided the correct mix of physical and chemical restraint and analgesia are at hand.
• These procedures are important as in the case of injuries like lacerations, facial bone fractures, and oral fractures. Treating them rapidly and aptly can prevent complications like facial deformity, bony sequestra, sinusitis, nasal or skin fistulas, deformities of the nasal septum, and eye malfunction.

Successful Healing and Cosmetic Outcome

• The paper highlights that due to the abundant blood supply in the horse’s head region, effective management of these injuries often leads to a pleasing cosmetic outcome, a crucial aspect in equine care.

Procedures Possible in Standing Horses

• It further discusses that specific procedures can indeed be carried out in the standing horse, namely centesis and trephination of the paranasal sinuses, certain dental operations, stabilization of the alar fold, and removal of epidermal inclusion cysts present in the nasal diverticulum.