Surgical correction of a meningoencephalocele in a thoroughbred filly.
Authors: Buck Amy M, Hunt Robert J
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Surgical Correction of a Meningoencephalocele in a Thoroughbred Filly Meningoencephaloceles—herniation of brain tissue and meningeal membranes through a skull defect—are exceptionally rare in horses, with no established surgical treatment protocols previously documented in the equine literature. Buck and Hunt present the first reported case of successful surgical correction in a 1.5-month-old Thoroughbred filly, identified at birth via radiography and MRI, using a technique involving excision of the herniated neural tissue, primary dural closure, and titanium mesh reconstruction of the bony defect. Histopathological analysis confirmed the herniated tissue contained functional neural parenchyma with intact neurons and glial cells, raising important considerations about the neurological risk of tissue removal in such cases. Seven months postoperatively, the filly remained free of neurological deficits, suggesting that early surgical intervention combined with careful reconstruction may offer a viable treatment option for this condition. Whilst this remains an isolated case, the successful outcome establishes a surgical framework that veterinarians managing neonatal foals with suspected neural tube defects can reference, particularly given the otherwise poor prognosis associated with conservative management of such congenital abnormalities.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Meningoencephaloceles identified at birth in foals can be surgically corrected with good prognosis; consider referral for advanced imaging and neurosurgical intervention
- •Titanium mesh provides effective reconstruction of skull defects following excision of congenital neural lesions
- •This case establishes a surgical precedent for managing rare neural tube defects in horses—contact specialist centers if similar cases are encountered
Key Findings
- •Surgical excision of meningoencephalocele tissue with titanium mesh repair of skull defect was successfully performed in a 1.5-month-old thoroughbred filly
- •Histopathology confirmed neural tissue composition with neurons and glial cells within the lesion
- •No neurologic deficits were observed 7 months postoperatively, indicating successful long-term outcome