STANDING SURGERY AND PROCEDURES OF THE HEAD

Although most surgical procedures of the head are technically easier to perform with the horse under general anesthesia, other factors will influence whether a surgical procedure is performed with the horse standing or recumbent under the influence of general anesthesia. The accessibility of the head lends itself to many standing surgical procedures if the proper combination of analgesia and physical and chemical restraint is used. Traumatic injuries of the head (lacerations, facial bone fractures, and oral fractures) may involve vital structures, and a thorough examination is indicated. Failure to treat a traumatic injury may result in facial deformity, bony sequestra, paranasal sinusitis, salivary-cutaneous fistula, cutaneous fistulas into a nasal passage or paranasal sinus, nasal septal deformities, and ocular dysfunction. Proper management of these injuries typically results in a cosmetic outcome because of the head's abundant blood supply. Other surgical procedures that can be performed in the standing horse include centesis and trephination of the paranasal sinuses, certain dental procedures, alar fold stabilization, and extirpation of epidermal inclusion cysts of the nasal diverticulum.