Objective: To report the clinical and diagnostic findings associated with fibrotic myopathy, describe the surgical procedure for standing fibrotic myotomy and report postoperative outcomes. Study design: Retrospective study. Sample population: Twenty-two horses. Methods: Records were included if a clinical diagnosis of fibrotic myopathy was based on clinical and/or ultrasonographic examination and the horse was treated with myotomy of the affected muscle. Records were reviewed for signalment, preoperative findings, perioperative complications, and outcomes. Follow-up also included a phone survey of owners. Results: Quarter horses represented 14 of 22 horses in this study. Ultrasonographic examination was performed in 14 of 22 horses. The semitendinosus muscle was affected in 17 of 22 horses. Other muscles affected included the semimembranosus, gracilis, and biceps femoris. Four of the 22 horses had a diagnosis of incisional postoperative complications. Eight of 12 formerly athletic horses returned to their intended athletic use. Ten of 16 owners were satisfied with the procedure. Conclusion: Prognosis for long-term comfort after standing fibrotic myotomy was fair with appropriate rehabilitation. Ultrasonographic examination was helpful in identifying the muscles affected and aided in surgical planning. Clinical impact: Standing fibrotic myotomy is a technically straightforward procedure that yields a fair outcome in horses with minimal intraoperative and/or postoperative complications.

Objective: To determine the ability of 0.2% polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB)-impregnated gauze to inhibit the growth of bacteria isolated from equine infected sites.Study Design: In vitro study.Methods: Nine bacterial isolates were obtained from cultures submitted from equine patients presenting with penetrating injuries of the hoof (n = 4), septic osteitis (n = 1), synovial sepsis (n = 1), wounds (n = 2), and incisional infection following laparotomy (n = 1). Two standardized strains were also included. A standard inoculum of each isolate was placed on 12 Muller-Hinton agar plates. Squares (2.5 cm × 2.5 cm) of 0.2% PHMB-impregnated (n = 6) and nonimpregnated control gauze (n = 6) were placed on inoculated agar plates. Bacterial growth under each gauze square was assessed after a 24-h incubation period and areas of inhibition were measured to a standardized scale, using image-processing software. Mean ± SD growth inhibition (%) using 0.2% PHMB-impregnated gauze was compared to the nonimpregnated gauze for each isolate using Student's t test (p < .05).Results: The 0.2% PMHB-impregnated gauze inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus spp. (n = 4) by 33%-83.1% and that of Escherichia coli spp. (n = 4) by 6.5%-37%. There was no inhibition of growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or either Enterococcus spp. Conclusion:The 0.2% PHMB-impregnated dressing tested here inhibited the growth of staphylococcal and E. coli isolates, but the magnitude of inhibition varied between strains.Clinical Relevance: These results justify in vivo studies to evaluate the ability of the dressing to reduce the bacterial growth of common equine bacterial pathogens in clinical practice.