Outcome following neurectomy of the deep branch lateral plantar nerve and plantar fasciotomy for hindlimb proximal suspensory desmopathy in western performance horses: 21 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the outcome of horses used in western performance disciplines after deep branch lateral plantar neurectomy/fasciotomy surgery for hind limb proximal suspensory desmopathy (PSD). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty-one client-owned horses. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed (2009-2019) for horses involved in western performance disciplines that had been treated with deep branch lateral plantar neurectomy and plantar fasciotomy for lameness due to hind limb PSD. Follow-up was obtained by reexamination and/or verbal interviews with owners >2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Sixteen quarter horses and five paints were used for western pleasure (14/21), barrel racing (2/21), cutting (1/21), steer wrestling (1/21), working cow horse (1/21), team roping (1/21) and reining (1/21). A median duration of 8 months was required before horses were able to resume training or athletic work. Nine horses were able to return to a similar or higher level of athletic use, nine horses returned to a lower level of athletic performance, and three horses could not return to intended function. Owner satisfaction with outcome after the procedure was high (16/21), average (3/21), and low (2/21). CONCLUSION: Deep branch lateral plantar neurectomy and plantar fasciotomy allowed most horses to resume some athletic function as western performance horses. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results provide evidence of potential outcomes when considering surgical treatment of hind limb PSD in western performance horses.

Standing placement of transphyseal screw in the distal radius in 8 Thoroughbred yearlings.

This retrospective study describes placement of distal radial transphyseal screws in Thoroughbred yearlings with carpal varus deformities while standing, and identifes short- and long-term complications following the procedure. Data gathered from 2009 to 2013 identified 8 yearlings that met the inclusion criteria. Horses were sedated intravenously and a single 4.5-mm cortical screw was placed in the distal lateral radial physis following application of local anesthetic and surgical preparation of a pre-placed hole. All horses were evaluated weekly after surgery and screw removal was performed standing and under sedation when correction of the angular limb deformity was achieved. The mean time for screw removal was 46 days. No short- or long-term complications were identified. Findings indicate that placing a single transphyseal screw in the lateral aspect of the distal radial physis with the horse standing is a viable option to treat varus angular limb deformity of the carpus in horses.

Placement debout d'une vis transphysaire dans le radius distal chez 8 Thoroughbred âgés d'un an. Cette étude rétrospective décrit le placement d'une vis transphysaire dans le radius distal de chevaux Thoroughbred âgés d'un an ayant des difformités du varus carpien, lorsqu'ils sont debout, et elle identifie les complications à court et à long terme après l'intervention. Les données recueillies de 2009 à 2013 ont identifié 8 chevaux âgés d'un an qui satisfaisaient aux critères d'inclusion. Les chevaux ont été mis sous sédation par intraveineuse et une seule vis corticale de 4,5 mm a été placée dans le cartilage diaphyso-éphysaire après l'application d'anesthésie locale et de la préparation chirurgicale d'un trou pratiqué au préalable. Tous les chevaux ont été évalués une fois par semaine après la chirurgie et l'enlèvement de la vis a été réalisé debout et sous sédation lorsque la correction de la difformité angulaire du membre a été obtenue. Le temps moyen de l'enlèvement des vis était de 46 jours. Aucune complication à court ou à long terme n'a été identifiée. Les résultats indiquent que le placement d'une seule vis transphysaire dans l'aspect latéral du cartilage diaphyso-éphysaire distal radial, lorsque le cheval se tient debout, est une option viable pour traiter la difformité angulaire de type varus du carpe chez les chevaux.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Perioperative ruminal pH changes in domestic sheep (Ovis aries) housed in a biomedical research setting.

Little information is available on normal ruminal pH values for domestic sheep (Ovis aries) housed in a research setting and fed a complete pelleted ration. Sheep maintained on pelleted diets undergoing surgical procedures often present with postoperative anorexia and rumen atony. To determine the relationship between diet and postoperative rumen acidosis and associated atony, we studied dietary effects on ruminal pH in an ovine surgical model. Sheep undergoing orthopedic surgical procedures were randomized into 2 diet groups. Group 1 (n = 6) was fed complete pelleted diet during the pre- and postoperative period, and group 2 (n = 6) was fed timothy grass hay exclusively throughout the study. Measures included ruminal pH, ruminal motility, and rate of feed refusal, which was monitored throughout the pre- and postoperative periods. The 2 groups did not differ significantly before surgery, and the ruminal parameters remained largely within normal limits. However, a downward trend in the strength and frequency of rumen contractions was observed in pellet-fed sheep. After surgery, the pellet-fed group showed clinical signs consistent with ruminal acidosis, supported by decreased ruminal motility, anorexia, putrid-smelling ruminal material, and death of ruminal protozoa. Intervention by transfaunation in clinically affected sheep resulted in resolution of signs. Our findings suggest that sheep fed grass hay appear to have a more stable ruminal pH, are less likely to experience anorexia and rumen atony, and thereby exhibit fewer postoperative gastrointestinal complications than do sheep on a pellet diet.