Treatment of solar prolapse using the heart bar shoe and dorsal hoof wall resection technique.

The research article presents a study into the treatment of acute laminitis in horses using two techniques: a heart bar shoe and a dorsal hoof wall resection. Among the studied cases, seven horses returned to their prior level of performance after treatment.

Research Objective and Methodology

• The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the heart bar shoe and dorsal hoof wall resection techniques in treating acute laminitis in horses.
• Acute laminitis is a painful and potentially lifethreatening condition that affects the feet of horses. The condition had progressed to a severe state in the studied horses, leading to prolapse of the tip of the pedal bone covered by solar corium through the horny sole.
• The researchers used a sample of 10 horses suffering from this condition. One notable case even resulted in the visible exposure of the tip of the distal phalanx.

Findings and Outcome

• Nine cases were registered of distal phalangeal rotation – a condition when the bottom edge of the bone rotates downwards due to the pull of the deep flexor tendon.
• One case was noted of distal displacement of the distal phalanx, also known as “sinking,” which is another severe complication of laminitis.
• Outcomes varied among the sample. Two horses were euthanized due to the severity of their lameness. One horse still exhibited slight lameness at the trot following treatment.
• However, the remaining seven horses returned to their previous routine and performance levels, indicating a positive response to the treatment.

Conclusion

• The research provides valuable insights into the application of the heart bar shoe and dorsal hoof wall resection techniques in the treatment of acute laminitis.
• The positive result in seven out of ten cases suggests that these techniques could be effective in treating severe cases of laminitis in horses.