Windsucking treated by myectomy and neurectomy

Abstract

Summary A sternothyrohyoid, sternothyroid and omohyoid myectomy and bilaterial spinal accessory neurectomy were carried out in 9 windsucking horses under general anaesthesia. The problem recurred in 2 animals but treatment appeared to have been successful in the other horses. The cosmetic results of the operation were much better than after the traditional modified Forssell operation. Résumé La myectomie des muscles sternothyrohyoîdien, sternothyroîdien et omohyoîdien, complétée par une nevrotomie bilatérale du spinal accessorie a été réalisée sous anesthésie générale sur 9 chevaux tiqueurs. La maladie répparut chez 2 chevaux chez les 7 autres, ce traitement parut efficace. Les résultats esthétiques de l'opération ont été supérieurs à ceux obtenus par l'opération de Forssell modifiée. Zussammenfassung Eine Myektomie der mm sternothyrohyoideus, sternothyroideus und omohydoideus wurde kombiniert mit einer zusätzlichen bilateralen, spinalen Neurektomie und bei neun Koppern unter Allgemeinnarkose durchgeführt. Bei zwei Pferden ergab sich keine Aenderung, bei den andern sieben schien die Behandlung erfolgreich zu sein. Das kosmetische Resultat der Operation fiel erheblich besser aus als nach der modifizierten Forsell‐Operation.

Assessment of the modified Forssell's procedure for the treatment of oral stereotypies in 10 horses

“…The success rate in these 10 horses was lower than that reported by Fricker and Hugelshofer (1981), Greet (1982), Huskamp and others (1983) and Turner and others (1984). However, similarly poor results were reported by Hakansson and others (1992) and Fjeldborg (1993).…”

“…The mean age at surgery varied from 2.2 years (Greet 1982) to five years (Fjeldborg 1993) and in the present series was 4-7 years ( Table 2). Older horses may have a good result after surgery, as is evident in case 1 which appeared successful after surgery at seven years of age.…”

“…This results in a better cosmetic appearance and is now regarded as the preferred treatment (Hermans 1973, Greet 1982, Turner and others 1984.…”

Stereotypic and Other Behavior Problems

“…44 Even short-term success cannot be guaranteed, with a number of studies citing success rates ranging from zero to 80%. 44,[69][70][71][72] Some of those quoting higher success rates, however, comment that the horses continued to crib-bite when stressed or while feeding.…”

Long Term Outcome After Laser Assisted Modified Forssell's in Cribbing Horses

“…A less invasive procedure involving neurectomy of the ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve without a myectomy has been performed as an alternative to the Forssell's procedure with less favorable results . A modification of the original Forssell's procedure replaced the sternomandibularis muscle myectomy with neurectomy of the ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve, improving the cosmetic outcome of the surgery . Since then the modified Forssell's procedure has been accepted as the method of choice for surgical treatment of cribbing behavior.…”