Risk Factors for Equine Strangulating Lipoma Colic 

Obstruction by strangulating lipoma (SLO) is one of the most common causes of small intestinal strangulation in horses and is fatal without surgery. Current knowledge of risk factors for SLO is limited to horse signalment features. To date, other risk factors have not been investigated. This matched, case-control study aimed to investigate horse- and management-level risk factors for SLO using a population of healthy horses as controls.

Study on Strangulating Lipoma Colic

The prospective, international multicenter study was conducted in the U.K. and U.S. between January 2022 and May 2024. The cases included were horses with strangulating lipoma confirmed at exploratory laparotomy at the four participating hospitals. Researchers randomly selected three controls per case, which were matched on clinic and time. They used conditional logistic regression to identify associations between variables and the risk of SLO. 

The researchers analyzed data from 55 strangulating lipoma cases (U.K., n = 42; U.S., n = 13) and 167 matched controls. In a final multivariable model, increased age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15; 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]: 1.04–1.28; p = 0.008) and particular breeds (pony, Welsh Section D/cob, American Quarter Horse/American Paint Horse/Appaloosa/Arabian) were at increased risk of strangulating lipoma (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.10–2.15; p = 0.012). Strangulating lipoma was more likely in horses with a prior history of laminitis (OR: 10.94; 95% CI: 2.21–54.13; p = 0.003) or increased stabling in the previous four weeks (OR: 6.79; 95% CI: 1.96–23.54; p = 0.003). Management strategies to maintain optimal weight and address equine metabolic syndrome were protective (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.39–0.94; p = 0.041). 

Bottom Line 

These study results add to our knowledge about the epidemiology of strangulating lipoma and have identified new risk factors that might be modifiable. Practitioners should consider strategies to prevent endocrine-associated laminitis, including weight management in high-risk groups, to minimize strangulating lipoma risk. 

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.70104

Related Reading

• Strangulating Lipomas in Horses
• Disease Du Jour: Improving Postoperative Outcomes for Colic Patients
• Colic Surgery’s Impact on Show-Jumping Horses’ Careers

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