The management of abdominal wall repair continues to present a challenging problem, especially in the repair of major defects. Many abdominal wall defects can be repaired by primary closure; however, if the defect is large and there is a tension on the closure of the wound, the use of prosthetic materials becomes indispensable. Many studies have been performed with various materials and implant techniques, without the comparison of their degrees of success, based on sound meta-analysis and/or inclusive epidemiologic studies. This review covered the effectiveness of recent advances in prosthetic materials and implant procedures used in repair of abdominal wall, based on biomechanical properties and economic aspects of reconstructed large abdominal wall defects and hernias in animals. The presented results in this review helped to reach treatment algorithms that could maximize outcomes and minimize morbidity.

Although all of the tendinous structures can be injured, the digital flexor tendons are commonly affected. The goals of tendon surgical reconstruction are to provide a strong anastomosis site, re-establish normal vascularization, restore the tendon microanatomy, functional length and minimize formation of restrictive adhesions that adversely affect the gliding function of the injured tendons. Various techniques of digital flexors tenorrhaphy have been described; either by different suture pattern, prosthetic materials, natural bio-absorbable materials, tendon transplantation and tendon shielding. This review highlights the recent assessment of different techniques used for digital flexors tenorrhaphy in equine and evaluation of the extent and quality of the digital flexor tendons healing and case prognosis after these surgical manoeuvres by ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), biomechanical properties and histopathological examinations. It could be concluded that the use of preserved bio-absorbable augmentation devices either glycerolized bovine pericardium (GBP) xenograft, allograft and allograft shielding with GBP were a good alternative technique accelerating digital flexor tendons repair with restoring their biomechanical properties. Ultrasonography and MRI have provided accurate methods in monitoring the status of healing progression after tenorrhaphy in equine.

No abstract