A MFC transcondylar screw decreases the area of a MFC SCL on craniocaudal radiographs and eliminates lameness in ∼ 75% of horses by 120 days. The simplicity and lack of specialized equipment required make this technique a useful option for the treatment of equine SCL causing lameness.

Objective-This clinical report describes surgical correction of diaphragmatic hernia in three young horses. Study Design-Retrospective investigation of medical records and subsequent racing performance. Animals-Three young horses with diaphragmatic hernia. Results-Three young horses with signs of abdominal pain had diaphragmatic hernia causing small intestinal strangulation. The strangulated small intestine was resected and an end-to-end jejuno-jejunal (two horses) or a side-to-side jejuno-cecal anastomosis (one horse) was performed. Diaphragmatic hernias were closed with a continuous suture pattern. All horses recovered and raced. No difference in race records was found between the subject horses and their siblings.One subject horse died of colic at 5 years of age, but the cause of the colic was undetermined.The remaining two horses are in use as broodmares and have produced multiple foals without recurrence of signs of diaphragmatic hernia. Conclusions-Diaphragmatic hernias can be repaired in horses. These horses can achieve race records similar to their siblings and can produce foals without recurrence of signs of diaphragmatic hernia.

A diagonal paramedian approach to the abdomen was used for unilateral ovariectomy in 15 mares. In each case, surgery was performed for removal of a granulosa cell tumor. All horses recovered from surgery with minimal complications. Surgical exposure of the affected ovary was adequate to allow exteriorization and ligation. Other advantages of this approach were ease of closure and lack of postsurgical complications.

The case records of 19 mares undergoing caudal ventral midline celiotomy for cesarean section were reviewed. Surgical exposure to the uterus was good, and the incisions healed by first intention in surviving mares. Seventeen mares (89%) survived to time of hospital discharge. Six foals (32%) were delivered alive, of which three were euthanatized because of severe deformity (1 died on day 6 and 2 survived to time of discharge). The most frequent postoperative complications were abdominal pain (13 mares), anemia (10 mares), and retained placenta (6 mares). Sixteen mares were bred during at least one season after the cesarean section and eight (50%) produced at least one foal. The collective foaling rate for these mares, bred a total of 25 seasons, was 36%. Only one mare bred during the same year as the surgery produced a live foal. The collective foaling rate for mares bred after the year of the surgery was 50%.

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