Postoperative recumbency behavior in horses undergoing minimally invasive surgery

Area of Science:

• Equine surgery
• Animal welfare science
• Veterinary orthopedics

Background:

• Recumbency behavior in horses indicates rest, comfort, pain, and welfare during recovery.
• The impact of minimally invasive arthroscopy and laparoscopy on equine postoperative recumbency is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare sternal and lateral recumbency durations in horses following arthroscopic and laparoscopic procedures.
• To evaluate the influence of surgical technique on immediate postoperative recumbency patterns.

Main Methods:

• Data from two experiments involving eight horses each (arthroscopy and laparoscopic ovariectomy) were analyzed.
• Continuous video monitoring recorded sternal and lateral recumbency for four days post-surgery.
• General linear models assessed the effects of surgical technique, surgery order, and postoperative day.

Main Results:

• Arthroscopy resulted in significantly longer sternal and lateral recumbency times compared to laparoscopy.
• Recumbency times increased over the four-day postoperative period.
• Preoperative recumbency patterns tended to persist but did not account for technique-specific differences.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopy and laparoscopy, though minimally invasive, distinctly affect equine postoperative recumbency.
• Recumbency patterns serve as valuable indicators of surgical characteristics and recovery.
• These findings support the use of recumbency monitoring for assessing equine welfare post-surgery.