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COMPLICATIONS OTHER THAN PAINFUL NEUROMAS FOLLOWING A POSTERIOR DIGITAL NEURECTOMY
Author(s) -
Evans Loren H.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1975.tb01591.x
Subject(s) - medicine , neurectomy , navicular bone , lameness , surgery , neuroma , tendon , anatomy , pathology , alternative medicine
SUMMARY A painful neuroma occurs following 25% of routine equine neurectomies unless special neurosurgery is done. There are at least five other complications that one may encounter: (1) A change of gait such as stumbling or forging has been noted, especially when the neurectomy has been done in one leg; (2) A vascular compromise has been found if there had been any complications in wound healing or excessive tissue insult. Excessive scar formation surrounding both the digital vein and artery can compromise the blood supply to the foot. When the posteriod digital nerves are severed the autonomic nerves are also interrupted. This results in a vasodilatation which may be responsible for faster hoof growth; (3) If the navicular bone had undergone osteolytic changes before the neurectomy it may fracture as soon as the horse starts to use the foot; (4) The deep flexor tendon may rupture where it passes over the navicular bone. This is especially true where adhesions between the bone and tendon were present; (5) Infections in the sole, bulbs of heel, frog, navicular bursa or coffin joint often go unattended because the horse does not show a lameness.