Equine Veterinary Education最新文献

Thyro-hyoid muscle (TH) dysfunction has been reported as a potential contributing factor to dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in the young equine athlete. A 5-year-old National Hunt (NH) mare presenting with a history of poor performance and respiratory noise was diagnosed with DDSP on exercising video-endoscopic examination. Aplasia of the right thyrohyoid muscle was observed intraoperatively whilst performing a laryngeal tie forward (LTF) procedure. The procedure was reported to have resolved poor performance and respiratory noise, allowing the animal to return to race performance.

Diagnosing trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS) in horses primarily depends on identifying characteristic clinical signs such as headshaking and nasal irritation, along with excluding non-trigeminal causes through additional diagnostic techniques, primarily imaging. Aside from somatosensory evoked potentials, which require anaesthesia and are technically challenging, no tools currently assess trigeminal dysfunction, the hallmark of TMHS. We describe for the first time the application of quantitative sensory (QST) and trigeminocervical reflex (TCR) threshold testing for the evaluation of trigeminal sensory function in a 6-year-old Holstein gelding with TMHS. Both methods are simple to apply and feasible in an awake, unsedated state. While quantitative sensory testing indicated rather normal behavioural responses to tactile, mechanical, and thermal stimulations, the TCR thresholds, determined through electromyographic recordings from the splenius muscle following electrical stimulation of the infraorbital nerve, were considerably lower than those previously reported. If these observations are confirmed on a larger scale, TCR testing could become a promising non-invasive, easy-to-apply diagnostic tool for the quantitative assessment of peripheral neural sensitisation in horses affected by TMHS, potentially useful to evaluate severity, monitor progression over time and response to treatment.

Collateral ligament injuries can be debilitating to equine athletes. Despite the awareness of collateral desmopathy seen in clinical practice, there remains limited detailed information on contrasting features of these injuries based on their location in the limb. This article briefly reviews collateral ligament injuries in horses, summarising the literature regarding anatomical and pathological differences as well as diagnostic and treatment options to consider for management, which can lead to successful outcomes. Awareness of the limited literature available will ideally stimulate equine clinicians to continue to share their objective data and improve our evidence-based decision making of these injuries.

The case series by Aßmann et al. (2025) describes three cases of mandibular fractures that developed sequestration of the fracture margin as a complication of the healing process. Two cases presented chronically after attempted conservative management; the third presented acutely. Despite robust stabilisation and debridement, two of the three cases continued to exhibit associated symptoms and were euthanised. The second case, which was presented and stabilised acutely, was in this group. For the first case, a type 1 external fixator was used with Schanz screws, and for the second case, a 4.5/5.0 narrow LCP plate was placed as a type 1 external fixator. One of the chronically presented cases underwent internal stabilisation with a 4.5/5.0 mm narrow LCP plate, continued treatment and eventually resolved after 25 months of treatment with debridement and flushing for over a year after the implants were removed.

Unilateral mandibular fractures tend to have high-success rates within the literature, with most reports indicating 90% or more success with minor complications (Belsito & Fischer, 2001; Henninger et al., 1999; Jansson, 2016). Conservative management of unilateral fractures has been shown to be highly effective; however, when complications do occur, they can be significant. One of 24 horses was euthanised due to persistent difficulty with mastication following conservative management of a mandibular fracture according to the retrospective study by Jansson, (2016). The abundant blood supply and support of the opposite hemimandible are thought to aid in the high level of success with resolution of these fractures. Interestingly, in the report by Aßmann et al. (2025), two of three cases presenting with complications were subsequently euthanised, albeit a function of the owner's decision-making.

The terms delayed union and nonunion are typically used to describe fractures that do not show normal signs of healing at 3 months (Bowers & Anderson, 2024). While none of these fractures were that old, an inappropriate healing response was observed which can be further described using characteristics of these terms. Radiographically, there is a recognised abnormality in bone response categorised as the absence of callus, mild callus and excessive callus, respectively, termed atrophic, oligotrophic or hypertrophic (Bowers & Anderson, 2024). These are thought to be associated with insufficient blood supply to the fracture site (atrophic), impaired osteogenesis (oligotrophic) and excessive motion at the fracture site (hypertrophic). Taking a step further back, there are four main recognised categories of factors that can contribute to delayed healing or the lack thereof—patient, mechanical, surgical and injury-related factors (Bowers & Anderson, 2024). In the presented cases, minimal callus formation was present