Pull-through technique for palmar digital neurectomy: forty-one horses (1998-2004).

Objectives: To report outcome of horses treated for navicular syndrome using a pull-through (PT) technique for palmar digital neurectomy (PDN).

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Horses (n=41) with navicular syndrome (NS).

Methods: Medical records (1998-2002) for horses that had NS and failed to respond to conservative management that had unilateral or bilateral forelimb, biaxial PDN were reviewed. Outcome for up to 6 years was obtained by telephone questionnaire or lameness examination. Survival analysis was used to assess time to recurrence of lameness.

Results: One year after PDN, 36 horses (88%) were free of lameness. Mean survival with no lameness after surgery was estimated at 4.14+/-0.33 years (median, 5 years).

Conclusions: PT-PDN technique resulted in soundness for 88% of horses for at least 1 year. PT-PDN was easily and quickly performed without specialized equipment, and had a low incidence of complications.

Clinical Relevance: The PT technique is an effective and viable alternative surgical method for PDN.