title: Long-term outcome of tooth repulsion in horses. A retrospective study of 61 cases.
abstract: The records of 61 horses undergoing tooth repulsion for treatment of alveolar periostitis were reviewed. Seventeen of 36 horses (47%) in which maxillary teeth were removed had serious postoperative complications, such as infection of a second tooth, bone sequestration, chronic sinusitis, draining tracts, retained dental packing, feed impaction of the alveolus or sinus, suture-line dehiscence, or skin-flap sloughs. Eight horses required at least one additional surgical procedure. Eight of 25 horses (32%) in which mandibular teeth were removed had serious postoperative complications, and four horses required an additional surgical procedure. Hospitalization lasted 2 to 61 days (median, 22 days) for maxillary teeth and 3 to 35 days (median, 8 days) for mandibular teeth. Long-term follow-up (at least 5 months) was possible in 47 horses. Twenty-four of 30 horses (80%) with maxillary tooth repulsion healed without further problems; six horses had persistent nasal discharge. Fourteen of 17 horses (82%) with mandibular tooth repulsion healed with no further problems or with only minor complications; three horses had a chronic draining tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Prichard
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Hackett
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Erb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004368:Dry Socket / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome