Treatment of oromaxillary fistulae in nine standing horses (2002–2006)

Summary An 8‐year‐old Andalusian stallion was presented to the Equine Hospital with a 1.5 year history of an oronasal fistula measuring approximately 2 cm long (caudal to rostral) by 1.5 cm wide following an oral extraction of the right second maxillary premolar (106). An alveolar bone flap was created adjacent to the oronasal fistula and rotated axially and ventrally to close the oral aspect of the fistula. At 3 days after surgery, clinical signs of the fistula, such as green‐tinged purulent nasal discharge and malodorous breath, were no longer evident. At 10 days after surgery, the oral opening of the fistula filled with granulation tissue and mucosa and decreased in size to less than 2 ml. The horse was fed a pelleted mash and grass diet and the small fistula was flushed orally twice daily until it completely healed. At 6 months following surgery, the fistula had completely healed. Few options are available for repairing an oroantral or an oronasal fistula in horses. This case report suggests that a large, chronic oronasal fistula involving the alveolus of a maxillary second premolar can be repaired successfully with an alveolar bone flap.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Surgical repair of a chronic, oronasal fistula in a horse using an alveolar bone flap

Easley

Freeman

2015

“…These enamel ridges are normally sited on the buccal aspect, with the flatter rostral and caudal surfaces providing good interproximal cemental contact, which does not allow food impaction between the teeth. Similarly, in a series reviewing treatment of oromaxillary fistulae due to ascending periodontitis, a case with rotated maxillary CT was refractory to conservative treatment despite good responses in other cases in the series with diastemata unconnected to axially rotated CT (Hawkes et al. 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental diastemata and periodontal disease secondary to axially rotated maxillary cheek teeth in three horses

Casey

Tremaine

2010

Summary Malerupted axially rotated maxillary cheek teeth (CT) were identified as the primary cause of diastemata and severe periodontitis in 3 horses. Diastema widening and periodontal debridement was performed initially in one case but did not resolve clinical signs. Subsequently, all 3 cases underwent extraction of the axially rotated teeth per os without complication. Follow‐up indicated remission of periodontitis and signs of oral pain. In these cases, maxillary CT had erupted in a manner that resulted in axial rotation of CT with undulating buccal and palatal surfaces aligned with the interproximal surfaces of adjacent normally orientated teeth. This resulted in poor interproximal compression and diastemata causing severe periodontitis. Axially rotated maxillary CT and the severe periodontitis that they precipitate, have not been previously described as a discrete dental disease entity.

“…This technique has been successfully used to treat chronic oromaxillary fistulae secondary to diastema in 7 aged horses (Hawkes et al . ).…”

Section: Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 97%

Is your practice diagnosing cheek teeth diastemata?

Easley

Odenweller

2015

Self Cite

Summary Diastema (pleural diastemata) is the most common disorder predisposing the horse to periodontal disease. These can affect the incisors or cheek teeth but pose more significant problems in the cheek teeth. Cheek teeth diastema can be congenital or develop secondary to other pathology. This condition is underdiagnosed in clinical practice due to lack of awareness of its seriousness and also due to poor dental examination techniques. A thorough dental examination requires both digital palpation and visual inspection of the oral cavity. Proper patient restraint and the use of a mouth speculum, bright light source, dental mirror or oral endoscope are required to fully inspect the equine oral cavity. Diastemata diagnosed early and managed properly can prevent the progression of periodontal disease and allow affected horses to preserve their dentition into old age.