Surgical repair of ruptured trachea in a horse

An Arabian mare was referred with traumatically induced complete transection of the trachea. A temporary airway was established through the open wound at the site of the rupture. Resection of devitalized tissue including 3 tracheal ring segments, and anastomosis of the tracheal ends was subsequently performed under general anesthesia. Wound healing was complicated by a peritracheal abscess, which responded successfully to drainage and antibiotic administration.     

Surgical repair of coxofemoral luxation in a horse.

A 4-year-old castrated male Miniature Horse was evaluated because of severe right hind limb lameness of 5 days' duration. The diagnosis of craniodorsal luxation of the right coxofemoral joint was made by physical examination and radiographic imaging. Closed reduction was attempted but was unsuccessful. Surgical reduction was successfully performed, using toggle pin, synthetic capsular reconstruction, and trochanteric transposition techniques. No postoperative complications were observed. Follow-up 26 months after surgery revealed no recurrence of the luxation and no evidence of lameness. These surgical techniques are used successfully for repair of coxofemoral luxations in small animals. To our knowledge, there has been no report of these techniques attempted in horses. These surgical techniques may have merit for the treatment of coxofemoral luxations in small equine patients.     

Surgical repair of a supraglenoid tubercle fracture in a horse

A fractured right supraglenoid tubercle in a 15-month-old Thoroughbred gelding was repaired by partial biceps brachii tenotomy, interfragmentary compression, and tension band wiring. The horse is currently being ridden daily and has remained sound for 4 years.     

Surgical repair of a full-thickness ear pinna defect in a horse

A 5-year-old gelding used for showing was presented for surgical repair of a full-thickness 15 mm diameter defect in the right pinna, which had occurred as a delayed complication following laser excision of a sarcoid. The defect had resulted in progressive deformity of the ear, and the horse was considered at risk of further injury if the defect became entrapped on a fixed object. Two artificial dermis meshes were inserted to encourage the formation of granulation tissue across the defect, and a commercially available skin expander was implanted adjacent to the site. Eighteen days later, a second surgery was performed to remove the skin expander and to mobilise a local rotational skin flap to close the defect. Both surgeries were performed under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. The site healed well, avoiding further potential trauma to the ear and deformity due to tissue contracture at the site, although some deformation of the lateral aspect of the cartilage remained.     

Surgical stapling for repair of a rectal tear in a horse

A grade-4 rectal tear in a mare was successfully repaired per rectum, using a surgical stapling device. The mare had only minor postoperative complications. This technique has some advantages over previously described procedures, but should be reserved for use in selected cases.     

Surgical repair of a cervical fracture/dislocation in a mature horse

The treatment of a cervical fracture/dislocation in an 11-year-old Anglo-Arab gelding is described. Six months after surgical repair of a luxation of the second left true intervertebral joint the animal appeared clinically normal.     

Surgical repair of cleft soft palate in the horse.

A technique for the surgical repair of a cleft soft palate in the horse is described. A symphysiotomy approach was employed to repair the anterior end of the cleft palate, and the posterior part was approached via a pharyingotomy incision.     

Surgical repair of a chronic,oronasal fistula in a horse using an alveolar bone flap

An 8‐year‐old Andalusian stallion was presented to the Equine Hospital with a 1.5 year history of an oronasal fistula measuring approximately 2 cm long (caudal to rostral) by 1.5 cm wide following an oral extraction of the right second maxillary premolar (106). An alveolar bone flap was created adjacent to the oronasal fistula and rotated axially and ventrally to close the oral aspect of the fistula. At 3 days after surgery, clinical signs of the fistula, such as green‐tinged purulent nasal discharge and malodorous breath, were no longer evident. At 10 days after surgery, the oral opening of the fistula filled with granulation tissue and mucosa and decreased in size to less than 2 ml. The horse was fed a pelleted mash and grass diet and the small fistula was flushed orally twice daily until it completely healed. At 6 months following surgery, the fistula had completely healed. Few options are available for repairing an oroantral or an oronasal fistula in horses. This case report suggests that a large, chronic oronasal fistula involving the alveolus of a maxillary second premolar can be repaired successfully with an alveolar bone flap.     

Surgical treatment of sacral fracture in a horse

An 8-year-old Arabian stallion had signs of severe tailhead pruritus and slowly progressive loss of tail tone for 3 months. Palpation per rectum and radiography of the sacrocaudal region revealed a transverse, ventrally displaced fracture of the caudal portion of the sacrum. Surgical decompression and tail amputation resulted in complete recovery of athletic and reproductive function. Evidence of cauda equina neuritis was not seen on histologic examination of nerve roots obtained at surgery.     

Surgical correction of a traumatic esophageal diverticulum in a horse

A nine-year-old gelding was presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Clinic with discharge of saliva and food material from both nostrils. A diagnosis of esophageal diverticulum was made; treatment is described.     

Surgical reconstruction of a severely comminuted mandibular fracture in a horse

A Palomino gelding presented for evaluation of a mandibular fracture and physical examination revealed swelling and excoriation of the skin over the ventral mandible. Upon further examination, malalignment of the incisors was appreciated in addition to instability and crepitance of both the rostral aspect and vertical ramus of the mandible. Radiographic examination revealed a comminuted fracture within the interdental space and fractures of both vertical ramii of the mandible. Under general anaesthesia via tracheotomy intubation, the fractures of the vertical ramii were reduced and compression plating techniques used along the caudal‐lateral border of both ramii for stabilisation. Intraoral tension band wires were used for repair of the interdental space fracture. A type II external skeletal fixator using Steinmann pins and polymethyl methacrylate connecting bars was applied to increase stability. The horse was maintained on broad spectrum antibiotics and phenylbutazone and discharged following 6 days of hospitalisation. Radiographs were taken 10 weeks after surgery and revealed evidence of adequate healing. On follow‐up 20 months later, the horse was reported to have no difficulties eating and was maintaining its bodyweight. This case is unique due to the severity of the mandibular fracture. The authors are unaware of any previous reports of such a severely comminuted mandibular fracture and its successful reconstruction employing multiple surgical techniques.     

Surgical management of an ethmoid cyst in a horse.

A 2-year old Thoroughbred filly was examined for a 1-month history of persistent nasal discharge. Contrast radiography revealed a circumscribed mass within the right maxillary sinus which extended to the frontal sinus and ethmoid labyrinth. A discrete attachment of the mass to the ethmoid labyrinth was identified at surgery. Surgical removal of the mass eliminated the nasal discharge. On gross examination, the external structure of the mass was similar to a turbinate with a thin bony wall covered by a smooth mucosal membrane. The internal structure of the lesion had a lining membrane with multiple 1-3 cm in diameter fluid filled cystic structures. The histological appearance of the multiloculated structure was similar to the ethmoid labyrinth. This, combined with the single site of attachment to the ethmoid labyrinth, suggested that the cyst was ethmoidal in origin.     

Surgical management of intussusception in the horse

During a 14 year period, 27 of 310 horses undergoing laparotomy because of abdominal pain were found to have an intussusception involving the small intestine (16 cases) or caecum (11 cases). The clinical signs, operative findings and techniques adopted to overcome the obstruction are described. An evaluation of possible predisposing factors provided further evidence of the important role of the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata in initiating intussusception involving the ileum and caecum.     

Surgical treatment of tarsometatarsal joint luxation in a miniature horse foal

A 2-week-old Miniature Horse foal was referred for evaluation and treatment of a luxated right tarsometatarsal joint. Treatment consisted of closed reduction and internal fixation using two partially threaded Steinmann pins placed in normograde fashion through the tuber calcis into the proximal third metatarsus. Traumatic luxation has been reported to occur in the tarsocrural, proximal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints within the equine tarsus. Treatment for luxation of the distal intertarsal joint has not been documented. The treatment method most commonly suggested for tarsal luxation is closed reduction and cast immobilisation. Internal fixation using lag screws and plating has also been described. A combination of internal fixation and external coaptation is thought to achieve maximal stability and allow faster convalescence in cases of tarsal luxation. This case report describes for the first time a technique using two Steinmann pins to achieve successful internal fixation of a traumatic tarsometatarsal joint luxation in a 2-week-old Miniature Horse foal.