Equine cheek tooth repulsion using small diameter repulsion pins: 20 cases.

Background: Reported complication rates after dental repulsion for equine exodontia are high (up to 80%), but repulsion methods have changed notably in the last 20 years.

Objectives: Describe the outcome for 20 cases after dental repulsion using small diameter repulsion pins.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Records of horses that underwent cheek tooth repulsion were reviewed (2014-2023). Inclusion criteria included: mandibular or maxillary cheek tooth extraction where oral extraction failed and repulsion was used to complete extraction, and where clinical follow up information was available. Repulsions were carried out under sedation with a regional nerve block or under a short general anaesthetic, using a small diameter repulsion pin (3-5 mm). Intra-operative radiographs facilitated instrument placement. The alveolus was packed with polymethyl methacrylate post-extraction. Horses were re-examined at 4-6 weeks post-operatively.

Results: Twenty cases were included. Patients had a mean age of 10.3 years old (range 5-16 years). The majority (75%) of teeth had pre-existing dental fractures. Maxillary (n = 15) and mandibular cheek teeth (n = 5) were all successfully repulsed, with 16 cases performed with the horse standing and 4 with the horse under general anaesthesia. Intra-operative complications included damage to the mandibular bone (n = 1). Short-term complications (n = 2) included superficial surgical site infection, and dehiscence of one sinus flap. Long-term complications included the recurrence of sinusitis (n = 1) and small intra-alveolar fragments causing persistent bitting problems in another patient.

Main Limitations: Retrospective study design, small number of cases.

Conclusions: When oral extraction fails, cheek tooth repulsion using small diameter repulsion pins is an effective extraction technique. The total intra- and post-operative complication rate was 25%, which is comparable to previously published complication rates for repulsion using Steinmann pins and also those encountered after trans-buccal screw extraction.