Clinicopathological studies on neurectomy in equids

Abstract

Clinical and pathological changes following neurectomy were studied experimentally in 46 male and female equids. Operations (63) were performed using either the traditional or the Fackelman and Clodius methods of neurectomy. The effect of arteriovenous ligation was studied in 12 animals and 20 angiograms were performed post-mortem to study the arterial pattern of the extremities of the operated limb. Neuroma formation (31 cases) and sloughing of the hoof (5 cases) were the 2 main untoward sequelae. Neurectomy by the technique of Fackelman and Clodius proved superior to the traditional method. No essential changes were observed after ligation of the blood vessels, except in 1 case where collateral circulation was established.