Surgical

Intra-operative hypotension in anaesthetised horses

Several factors can contribute to the development of intra-operative hypotension in horses. These may include administration of inhalational anaesthetic agents and some sedatives, controlled...

Figure 8. Typically ‘dropped elbow’ appearance of an olecranon fracture, the horse is unable to extend the elbow and carpus. There is moderate soft tissue swelling of the elbow.

Diagnosis and management of traumatic equine fractures: an update

Fractures of the distal phalanx (pedal bone) usually occur as a result of trauma such as kicking a solid object, standing on a stone or fast exercise on hard ground. Horses may present with similar...

Figure 1. BioBag contains around 75 tiny larvae of the Lucilia sericata species along with foam chips to maintain a moist environment while they work.

Maggot debridement therapy: from humans to horses

Medical maggots are the same species as those responsible for fly strike, but they are produced to be clinically sterile for use in hospitals and outpatient settings (Hinshaw, 2000)..

Figure 2. Verrucose sarcoid lesion at the medial canthus.

Managing periocular sarcoids

Sharp surgical excision is commonly accepted to be an inappropriate sole treatment for the vast majority of sarcoids in any location, because of the propensity for this to lead to aggressive...

Figure 2. Surgeon and assistant in appropriate theatre wear.

Pathway to zero surgical site infections

Preoperative measures include careful patient selection, preparation of the surgical team, hair removal, preparation of the surgical site and rational antibiotic prophylaxis..

Figure 1. Removal of a nodular sarcoid between the forelimbs, under standing sedation and local anaesthesia using a diode laser. The skin is placed under tension using Lane tissue forceps.

Surgical management of sarcoids

Traditionally, surgical removal of sarcoids has had a very poor success rate with local recurrence rates of 72% being reported (McConahy et al, 1994). The main reason for such a poor outcome with...

Orthopaedic injuries on the racecourse

All racecourse veterinary surgeons should be equipped to provide first aid and emergency treatment on the course and in the stables, as well as to transport these horses to their home yard or a...

Figure 2. Horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy may have concurrent systemic compromise and, in some cases, may be suffering from muscle fatigue or exhaustion.

Evaluating equine anaesthetic risk

Intra-operative mortality was significantly and positively associated with heart rate and packed cell volume at admission in horses undergoing colic surgery (Proudman et al, 2006). Similarly, in a...

Figure 1. Example of a partial hoof wall resection performed under general anaesthetic for removal of a keratoma. A) Shows the solar view; b) shows the dorsal view; C) shows a close-up of the healthy, underlying tissue after removal of the mass; D) shows the keratoma and overlying hoof wall removed during surgery with a scalpel blade for scale of size.

Surgery of the equine hoof: a review

Septic diseases requiring surgical intervention in the horse generally result from a penetrating foot injury, with wounds most commonly occuring on the solar surface of the foot when the horse stands...

Figure 7. This is the same horse as Figure 5. Radiograph (dorsolateral-palmaromedial oblique) of a comminuted displaced fourth metatarsal fracture (A). The fracture plane and distal fragment were surgically resected (B).

Management of splint bone fractures

Conservative management strategies are best suited to minimally displaced splint bone fractures, whether open or closed, simple or comminuted. Treatment consisting of thorough debridement and lavage,...

Indications for and how to perform Caslick's operation in the mare

In general, a Caslick's operation is indicated when malconformation or inadequate closure of the vulva is present, for example as a result of trauma, weight loss, or congenital deviation from the...

Figure 3. a. Fibroblastic and coalescing nodular sarcoid lesions on the face of a young horse. b. The same lesions, 24 hours after intra-lesional injection with tigilanol tiglate, showing the rapid development of haemorrhagic necrosis associated with the treatment

An update on the treatment of cutaneous tumours

Benign neglect is most commonly employed with small occult or verrucose lesions. However, benign neglect may be a misnomer, as withholding treatment is not always a benign procedure. In a series of 42...