Surgical reconstruction of chronic coronary band avulsions in three horses.

This study reports on the surgical treatment of three adult horses with long-term chronic coronary band avulsions, a hoof condition, and their successful recovery post-surgery.

Case Description

• Three adult horses, each with differing durations of chronic coronary band avulsions (2-, 3-, and 46-months), were admitted for treatment. Coronary band avulsions can significantly hinder a horse’s movement and affect its quality of life. The condition causes a portion of the coronary band and the associated horn to grow at right angles to the hoof wall, giving the hoof an abnormal appearance.

Surgical Intervention

• All three horses were given anesthesia before their surgery. During surgery, the abnormal coronary band was reconstructed to restore the normal shape and function of the hoof.

Post-Surgery Follow-Up

• A follow-up evaluation of the three horses was conducted between 12 and 23 months post-surgery. This was to assess the success of the surgical intervention and progress of the healing process.
• The findings confirmed that all three horses healed successfully after the coronary band reconstruction surgery. This is indicated by the healing of all three avulsed coronary bands.
• However, there were slight complications noted during the follow-up. Mild roughening of the hoof wall distal to the previous avulsion site was observed in the horses. This suggests that, while the surgery was successful, there may be mild post-surgery effects such as slight deformations at the surgical site. Further studies may be necessary to ascertain the long-term implications of this surgical intervention.