Early herniorrhaphy of large traumatic abdominal wounds in horses and mules.
Authors: Azizi S, Hashemi-Asl S-M, Torabi E
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Early Repair of Traumatic Abdominal Hernias in Horses and Mules Traumatic abdominal hernias in equines are conventionally left to mature for 2–3 months before surgical repair, yet this case series of 22 horses and mules demonstrates that earlier intervention—within 21 days of injury—can achieve successful outcomes without mesh reinforcement. Azizi and colleagues performed herniorrhaphy using interrupted Mayo mattress or cruciate sutures following careful reduction of herniated viscera, with falls during trail work being the most common cause of injury (86% of cases). All animals achieved complete healing with return to previous use at 6–24 months post-operatively, with only minor complications (three suture abscesses and one subcutaneous seroma) and notably low recurrence rates despite the absence of mesh augmentation. This accelerated timeline challenges traditional waiting periods and suggests that early surgical intervention—when tissue oedema has subsided but inflammation remains manageable—may prevent adhesion formation, reduce infection risk from environmental contamination, and expedite rehabilitation. For practitioners managing acute traumatic abdominal wall defects, these findings support discussion of early surgical options with owners, particularly where infection control and swift return to function are priorities.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Early herniorrhaphy within 21 days of traumatic abdominal wall injury can be performed safely without mesh and achieves excellent long-term outcomes with no recurrence
- •Interrupted suture patterns (Mayo mattress or cruciate) are effective for this application; adhesion formation is uncommon even with early surgery
- •Animals return to full function following uncomplicated healing, making early surgical intervention a viable alternative to the traditional 2-3 month delay
Key Findings
- •Early herniorrhaphy (within 21 days) using interrupted Mayo mattress or cruciate sutures successfully repaired external traumatic abdominal hernias in 22 horses and mules
- •Falling while crossing impassable pathways caused 19/22 hernias (9/11 horses and 10/11 mules)
- •Adhesion formation to viscera occurred intraoperatively in only 2 cases despite early intervention
- •Complete recovery without hernia recurrence was achieved in all cases at 6-24 months follow-up with return to previous use