Surgery of the equine hoof: a review

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Surgery of the Equine Hoof Barr's 2022 review examines the surgical management of common hoof pathologies and the distinctive technical challenges that distinguish hoof surgery from other equine surgical sites. The article addresses four principal conditions requiring surgical intervention: puncture wounds with secondary synovial structure sepsis, septic pedal osteitis, collateral cartilage infection (quittor), and keratoma, whilst considering the practical realities of operating within this anatomically constrained environment. Three key factors complicate hoof surgery specifically: precise preoperative localisation of lesions, maintenance of asepsis within the contamination-prone foot, and achieving adequate surgical exposure through the hoof wall without creating excessive iatrogenic damage. For practitioners involved in hoof care and lameness management, this review underscores why diagnostic imaging (particularly radiography and ultrasound) is essential before hoof surgery, why meticulous infection control protocols directly impact postoperative outcomes, and why collaboration with experienced equine surgeons often yields better results than attempting blind debridement of suspected hoof pathology. Understanding these surgical principles helps farriers and veterinarians make informed decisions about when conservative management may suffice and when surgical referral becomes necessary.

Read the full abstract on the publisher's site

Key Findings

• •Common surgical hoof conditions include puncture wounds with synovial sepsis, septic pedal osteitis, quittor, and keratoma
• •Accurate preoperative localization of lesions is a major difficulty in equine hoof surgery
• •Maintaining asepsis and gaining adequate intraoperative access through the hoof wall present significant technical challenges

Conditions Studied