Sporting activity following colic surgery in horses: A retrospective study

Abstract

SummaryReasons for performing study: There is a paucity of studies addressing sporting activity and horse owners' satisfaction after horses have undergone colic surgery. Objectives: To determine 1) survival rate after colic surgery, 2) prevalence of horses returning to, or starting, sporting activities and 3) assess the owners' satisfaction regarding colic surgery. Methods: Cases that underwent exploratory celiotomy for colic between January 2005 and August 2010 were reviewed. All horses that had one or more celiotomies and were discharged after colic surgery were included in a telephone questionnaire survey. Only horses that survived at least 6 months after colic surgery were included in the sporting activity analysis. Data extracted from the records included case details, intraoperative diagnosis and surgical treatment. Information from a telephone questionnaire included the horses' post surgical details (horse alive or subjected to euthanasia, post operative complications, pre-and post surgical use, return to sporting activity, sporting performance, behavioural changes, management changes and recommendation by owner for colic surgery). A logistic regression model was used for the statistical analysis of post hospitalisation performance and an ordinal regression model used for analysis of post colic complications and of owner's recommendation of surgery. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was computed to show survival of horses discharged after colic surgery. Results: The survival rates (%) at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months were 95.3, 86.6, 80.9, 76.9, 62.1 and 57.6, respectively. A large majority of horses (86.1%) resumed or started sporting activities after colic surgery. The proportion of horses that the owners believed to achieve the same or better performance after surgery was 83.5%. In 89.9% of the cases, owners stated that they would recommend colic surgery. Conclusions: Horses discharged after colic surgery had a high long-term survival rate. A high prevalence of horses resumed or started sporting activities with a high proportion of horses at their presurgical performance level. The large majority of owners of discharged horses were satisfied with colic surgery performed on their horses. evj_490 3..6

Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: a retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006–2012)

“…2). Survival at 12 months (83.9%; 120/143) is comparable with an earlier report from Denmark by Christophersen and colleagues (86.6%) [6]. The overall survival between their study and our present data are very similar up to 36 months after surgery.…”

“…However, in previous studies, the number of horses with incisional hernia is limited: 12/195 horses in one study [7]. The number of horses with incisional hernia was not actually reported in the other study of 79 horses and the ORs those authors calculated were also associated with wide confidence intervals [6]. Limited owner finances, which prevented hernia repair, may have also encouraged the owners to attempt to train and use the horses for the intended activity and performance.…”

“…In other studies, SSI has been reported in 11–42% [1, 14, 19] and incisional hernia in 6–17% of horses following laparotomy [6, 7, 14]. Horses that develop an incisional hernia have been reported to have a poorer outcome and be 7–14 times less likely to return to sporting activity or athletic use [6, 7]. However, in previous studies, the number of horses with incisional hernia is limited: 12/195 horses in one study [7].…”

“…The most common long-term complications that affect the return to use and performance are incisional hernia and postoperative colic [2–4]. Horses that developed an incisional hernia, were 7–14 times less likely to return to athletic use [6, 7]. According to previous reports postoperative colic is more common in horses with strangulating small intestinal lesions or right dorsal displacement of the colon and it occurs within 100 days after surgery [1, 9, 10].…”

“…In addition, the horse-owners’ levels of satisfaction were assessed. According to these two reports, owners expressed that 76–86% of the horses to have regained their previous or intended uses [6, 7]. …”