Costs and complications of equine castration: a UK practice-based study comparing 'standing nonsutured' and 'recumbent sutured' techniques.
BACKGROUND
Clinicians are often asked to guide owners and trainers over the relative advantages and disadvantages of equine castration performed in either the standing horse with an open unsutured scrotal wound with healing by second intention, or a recumbent horse under general anaesthesia in aseptic conditions, with sutured scrotal skin allowing primary wound closure.


OBJECTIVE
To identify types and frequency of complications following the 2 differing approaches, and to compare the financial cost associated with each procedure, based on practice charges.


METHODS
Veterinary expenses of 217 horses castrated by a Newmarket equine veterinary practice over an 18-month period were analysed. Of these, Group 1 (n = 121) were castrated standing and nonsutured by one of 2 ambulatory clinicians and Group 2 (n = 96) castrated in recumbency, in aseptic equine hospital conditions.


RESULTS
Group 1 had a complication prevalence of 22% with no mortalities, and Group 2 a significantly lower complication prevalence of 6% (P = 0.001) with a mortality rate of 1%. The financial cost of Group 1, without complications, was approximately one-third of the cost of uncomplicated Group 2. However, the cost of Group 1 with complications increased to approximately two-thirds of the cost of an uncomplicated Group 2 castration.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though the complication prevalence for Group 1 castrations leaving an open scrotal wound was significantly higher than for a recumbent horse with a sutured scrotal wound in a hospital, the average cost of Group 1 was still less, even taking into account the additional follow-up costs associated with treating such complications.


CONCLUSIONS
This report provides a benchmark for the outcome of 2 methods of castration based on a database obtained from particular circumstances within the practice involved. Further studies are required to corroborate and take into account future development in surgical and anaesthetic techniques.
Mason
B J
BJ
Rossdale and Partners, Beaufort Cottage Stables, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JS, UK.
Newton
J R
JR
Payne
R J
RJ
Pilsworth
R C
RC
D000818:Animals; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery*; D013537:Sutures / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014945:Wound Healing