title: Long term outcome after laser assisted modified Forssell's in cribbing horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (1) report long-term outcome after laser assisted modified Forssell's procedure; (2) describe the prevalence of postoperative complications; and (3) identify risk factors associated with outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses (n = 119).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records (1994-2012) of horses that had laser assisted modified Forssell's procedure were reviewed. Signalment, preoperative duration of cribbing, postoperative complications and outcome were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follow-up was available for 90 horses; 76 had stopped cribbing for >1 year. Of 14 horses that resumed cribbing, median relapse time was 6 months. Preoperative cribbing duration was significantly associated with an increased probability of unsuccessful outcome when horses cribbed for >3 years before surgery (odds ratio of positive outcome: OR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.95). Overall, 22.2% horses had postoperative complications (hematoma, seroma, infection, and prolonged drainage).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser assisted modified Forssell's is a very effective (84.4%) surgical treatment of cribbing behavior in horses. Preoperative cribbing duration was identified as a significant risk factor associated with unsuccessful surgical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Equine Health Studies Program, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
authors.forename: Petrisor
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baia
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Burba
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Riggs
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beaufrere
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome