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Hoof wall surgery in the horse: approaches to and underlying disorders
Clifford M Honnas1, Robin M Dabareiner, Betsy H McCauley
1The Texas Veterinary Medical Center, Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Large Animal Clinic, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA. chonnas@cvm.tamu.edu
Insights
Surgery of the equine foot, often challenging due to the hoof capsule, requires deep anatomical knowledge. This article details surgical approaches for specific foot conditions like septic navicular bursitis and keratomas.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Surgery
- Equine Podiatry
Background:
- Equine foot surgery is complex due to the hoof capsule.
- Successful treatment necessitates thorough anatomical understanding of sub-capsular tissues.
- Specific conditions like septic navicular bursitis, pedal osteitis, collateral cartilage infections, and keratomas require surgical intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail surgical approaches for common equine foot diseases.
- To provide a foundation for treating various conditions requiring hoof wall access.
Main Methods:
- Surgical techniques for septic navicular bursitis.
- Surgical techniques for septic pedal osteitis.
- Surgical techniques for collateral cartilage infections.
- Surgical techniques for keratomas.
Main Results:
- Detailed descriptions of surgical approaches are provided.
- The principles discussed are applicable to a range of hoof conditions.
- Successful surgical outcomes depend on anatomical knowledge and appropriate techniques.
Conclusions:
- Effective surgical treatment of equine foot conditions relies on understanding anatomy and disease processes.
- Specific surgical approaches are outlined for challenging conditions.
- The presented principles offer a framework for diverse hoof surgeries.
Abstract:
Because of the hoof capsule, surgery of the equine foot is often perceived to be quite difficult. Knowledge of the specific disease entities that require surgical intervention as well as an in-depth understanding of the anatomy of the tissues beneath the hoof capsule is a definite prerequisite to successful surgical treatment. This article details the surgical approaches used to treat septic navicular bursitis, septic pedal osteitis, infection of the collateral cartilages, and keratomas. The principles used to treat these conditions can be applied to a variety of other conditions for which access through the hoof wall is required.
