Authors: Marzok Mohamed, Almubarak Adel I, Nazih Mohamed, Al-Thnaian Thnian A, Alkhodair Khalid, El-Sherif Mohamed
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Supraorbital Enucleation in Donkeys Removal of a severely diseased or traumatised equine eye presents a surgical challenge requiring careful access to orbital structures whilst minimising haemorrhage and postoperative complications. Researchers in this 2024 study developed and validated a novel supraorbital approach to enucleation-exenteration, initially mapping surgical anatomy on four cadaveric donkey heads before proceeding to clinical application in eight live donkeys undergoing unilateral eye removal under inhalation anaesthesia with retrobulbar nerve blocking. The technique involved a semi-circular incision through skin and fascia of the supraorbital fossa to access the orbit, followed by careful dissection and removal of periorbital fat, electrocautery of bleeding vessels, ligation of major blood vessels, and sharp dissection to free the eyeball from its bony attachments. All eight clinical procedures were completed successfully with no significant intra- or postoperative complications reported during follow-up. This approach offers equine practitioners a feasible, safe alternative for eye enucleation that may reduce approach-related trauma compared to conventional methods, though validation in horses rather than donkeys and comparison with existing techniques would strengthen clinical applicability for equine patients.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •A new surgical approach for equine eye removal via the supraorbital fossa is now available as a safe, feasible alternative, with 100% success rate and no postoperative complications reported
- •The technique requires standard equipment (electrocautery, ligatures) and lateral recumbency with retrobulbar block, making it practical for field or clinical surgery
- •This approach may offer advantages over traditional methods, though comparative data with other enucleation techniques is needed to establish clinical superiority
Key Findings
- •Supraorbital fossa enucleation-exenteration technique was successfully completed in all 8 clinical cases with no intraoperative or postoperative complications
- •The supraorbital approach provides feasible access to the orbital cavity via a semi-circular incision in the supraorbital fossa with good anatomical visualization
- •Technique safety was demonstrated through controlled hemorrhage management via electrocautery and vessel ligation without adverse outcomes during follow-up