Surgical repair of coxofemoral luxation in a horse.

This research reports on a case where a 4-year-old castrated male Miniature Horse experiencing severe right hind limb lameness was successfully treated with surgical techniques traditionally used on small animals. The surgical procedure involved the use of toggle pin, synthetic capsular reconstruction, and trochanteric transposition techniques, with no evidence of lameness or recurrence of the luxation during the 26-month follow-up.

About the Case

• The researchers presented a medical case involving a 4-year-old castrated male Miniature Horse with a severe right hind limb lameness that had lasted for five days.
• The issue was identified as a craniodorsal luxation of the right coxofemoral joint, a diagnosis made through physical examination and radiographic imaging.
• An initial attempt was made to address the luxation through closed reduction. However, this approach was unsuccessful.

The Surgical Intervention

• Following the failure of the closed reduction, the team proceeded to perform a surgical reduction to treat the luxation.
• The surgery involved the use of a toggle pin, synthetic capsular reconstruction, and a procedure known as trochanteric transposition.
• The operations were conducted successfully without any postoperative complications.

Follow-up and Insights

• A follow-up conducted 26 months after the surgery revealed that there was no relapse of the luxation, and no signs of lameness could be observed on the horse.
• These insights suggest that the surgical techniques, which are typically used for small animals, may be effective for the treatment of coxofemoral luxations in small equine patients as well.
• According to the research team knowledge, these techniques had not been previously reported in the context of horse treatment.