Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bilateral iatrogenic [corrected] maxillary fractures after dental treatment in two aged horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary dentistry
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Widmer, A et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department Vetsuisse
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This report talks about two older horses that suffered fractures in their upper jaw after having dental work done. The fractures were serious but were fixed using wires placed inside their mouths while they were under general anesthesia. After the surgery, both horses recovered without any problems, and their fractures healed as expected. While it's uncommon for these types of fractures to happen during dental treatments, they can occur, particularly in older horses. Using proper sedation and possibly nerve blocks can help lower the chances of these injuries during dental procedures.
Abstract
This clinical report describes two horses with bilateral maxillary fractures following dental treatment. The fractures occurred during dental treatment by a veterinarian, and both had rostral, transverse, and complete bilateral maxillary fractures with instability and minimal displacement. The fractures were repaired using bilateral intraoral wiring with the patients under general anesthesia. The postoperative period was without complications and the fractures healed as expected. Maxillary fractures during or after routine dental treatment are rare, but can occur, especially in older horses. Appropriate sedation and, if necessary, regional nerve blocks might reduce the risk of iatrogenic fractures of the maxilla. General anesthesia must be considered for tooth extraction in horses that are difficult to restrain.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21038833/