The condition of septic arthritis was treated in 12 foals with 21 affected joints (Group I) and in 27 adult horses. The adult horses were divided into three groups, based on aetiology of the condition: haematogenous (Group II, n = 6), iatrogenic (Group III, n = 6), and perforating trauma (Group IV, n = 15). The treatment consisted of an initial systemic antibiotic that anticipated the microbial agents that were considered most likely per group, repeated through-and-through joint lavages every other day and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The antibiotics were adjusted to the results of bacteriological culture and susceptibility tests. Joint lavages were continued until the white blood cell count dropped below 15 G/l and bacteriological culture was negative, after which a single dose of a short-acting corticosteroid was administered intra-articularly. Joint recovery rate in group I was 71%. Patient recovery rate of the foals, however, was lower (42%). Three foals were killed for reasons other than arthritis; one foal because of an arthritis-related problem and three foals because of persistent arthritis. Overall joint recovery rate, equalling patient recovery rate, in the adult horses was 81%. The expected predominance of Streptococcus spp. in haematogenous arthritis in adult horses was not confirmed, indicating that in these cases also, an initial antibiotic treatment with a broad-spectrum combination is preferable. It is concluded that with intensive treatment, the prognosis of septic arthritis in the adult horse can be classified as fair to even good. Results in the foals are not as good, but this seems to be more due to the specific problems surrounding the equine neonate than to unresponsiveness to the treatment.

Laparoscopic ovariectomy in standing sedated mares provides good surgical access and is associated with low morbidity.

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Summary Reasons for performing study: Intra‐abdominal ligation/transection of the spermatic cord may result in necrosis of the testis; castration of abdominal cryptorchids via laparoscopy has therefore become common. Notwithstanding some adaptations of the technique, a small percentage of operations fail, prompting research into the anatomical background and clinical relevance of the procedure. Hypothesis: That an alternate blood supply may prevent complete necrosis of the testis after spermatic cord transection. Objective: To establish the prevalence of the problem in normal and cryptorchid stallions. Methods: In a preliminary study, the spermatic cords of 8 normal stallions were ligated and transected at different sites and in various manners. Five weeks later the testes were removed and the vitality of both the testes and epididymes was evaluated. In a prospective clinical trial, intra‐abdominal spermatic cord transection was performed in 241 cryptorchid and normal stallions. In cases of surgical failure, the testes were removed and histology performed. Results: Examination of the specimen removed from the 8 animals of the preliminary study revealed that all epididymes were completely or largely spared. All except one testis were completely necrotic. In the patients that underwent surgery all abdominally retained testes (n = 123) were necrotic, while 5 out of 88 inguinally retained and 8 out of 236 normally descended testes had partially survived. The pattern of survival differed between inguinally retained and normally descended testes. The epididymes of these 13 horses were (largely) vital. The (partial) survival of the epididymes and inguinally retained testes was ascribed to an alternate blood supply via anastomosing vessels derived from the cremasteric artery. A tributary from the external pudendal artery was considered responsible for the partial survival of normally descended testes. Conclusions and potential relevance: After intra‐abdominal transection of the entire spermatic cord, 5.6% of inguinally retained and 3.4% of normally descended testes failed to become completely necrotic, as a result of an alternate blood supply via the cremasteric and/or external pudendal artery. Therefore, laparoscopic castration without orchidectomy cannot be recommended as a trustworthy method for castration of inguinal cryptorchids and normal stallions.

A bladder rupture suffered by an adult mare during parturition was repaired, using a laparoscopic approach with the mare in dorsal recumbency. During the laparoscopic approach, the bladder was empty, inverted and had a rent on the dorsal apical surface. The bladder was located far caudally within the pelvis. By grasping the left lateral ligament and exerting gentle traction, it proved possible to manoeuvre the bladder more cranially where the rupture could be sutured. The benefits of the laparoscopic approach are reduction in incision size, visualisation of the tear, reachability of the empty bladder and the tear, and reduced reconvalescence time.

SummaryProgress in the laparoscopic techniques has made it possible to remove an abdominal testicle in the standing horse. As abdominal cryptorchidism is usually unilateral, the descended testicle is removed using a classic standing castration technique. However, this latter technique is not considered ideal as it is difiicult to guarantee asepsis, and can be dangerous for the surgeon. Therefore, a study was initiated to castrate descended testicles in the standing horss using a laparoscopic technique. In six Welsh pony stallions, 2 years of age, each with 2 descended testicles, the mesorchium, including the testicular artery and vein, are ligated intraabdominally and the testicles are left in place. The measurements of plasmatestosteron levels, the clinical examination and the results of the necropsy of the ponies 5 months postoperatively revealed, that the testicles atrophy and were no longer functional. Also, the results of the surgery on I unilateral inguinal cryptorchids, one bilateral inguinal cryptorchid, 17 unilatetal abdominal cryptorchids (ot which 5 were castrated unjlateralJy), 2 bihteral abdominal cryptorchids and 12 .normal " stallions are described.In conclusion, the surgical technique described in this repon is a safe and efficient method of castrating descended testicles in the standing patient. Advantages include reduced tissue trauma, no risk because of general anaesthesia, a quicker return to normal work and reduced hospitalization time.

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