Reported complication rates after dental repulsion for equine exodontia are high (up to 80%), but repulsion methods have changed notably in the last 20 years. The aim of this retrospective case series was to describe the outcome for 20 cases after dental repulsion using small diameter repulsion pins.
Inclusion Criteria
Researchers reviewed clinical records of horses that underwent cheek tooth repulsion (2014-2023). Inclusion criteria were: mandibular or maxillary cheek tooth extraction where oral extraction failed and repulsion was used to complete extraction and where clinical follow-up information was available. Repulsions were carried out under sedation with a regional nerve block or under a short general anesthetic using a small diameter repulsion pin (3-5 mm). Intraoperative radiographs facilitated instrument placement. The alveolus was packed with polymethyl methacrylate post-extraction. Horses were reexamined four to six weeks postoperatively.
Results
The study included 20 cases. Patients had a mean age of 10.3 years (range 5-16 years). The majority (75%) of teeth had preexisting dental fractures. Maxillary (n = 15) and mandibular cheek teeth (n = 5) were all successfully repulsed, with 16 cases performed with the horse standing and four with the horse under general anesthesia. Intraoperative complications included damage to the mandibular bone (n = 1). Short-term complications (n = 2) included superficial surgical site infection and dehiscence of one sinus flap. Long-term complications included the recurrence of sinusitis (n = 1) and small intra-alveolar fragments causing persistent bitting problems in another patient.
Bottom Line
When oral extraction fails, cheek tooth repulsion using small diameter repulsion pins is an effective extraction technique. The total intra- and postoperative complication rate was 25%.
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.14116
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