1. Long-term outcome of autologous fascia lata grafting with conjunctival flap overlay in horses with ulcerative keratitis and keratomalacia.
- Author
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Hoerdemann M and Yarbrough T
- Subjects
- Horses, Animals, Retrospective Studies, Fascia Lata transplantation, Treatment Outcome, Postoperative Complications veterinary, Corneal Ulcer surgery, Corneal Ulcer veterinary, Corneal Ulcer complications, Corneal Perforation complications, Corneal Perforation veterinary, Horse Diseases surgery
- Abstract
Objectives: To describe the technique, postoperative complications, and outcome after autologous fascia lata grafting with conjunctival flap overlay in horses with ulcerative keratitis and keratomalacia., Study Design: Retrospective case series., Animals: Eleven horses with ulcerative keratitis and keratomalacia., Methods: Horses included had undergone fascia lata grafting with conjunctival flap overlay due to impending or recent corneal perforation. Preceding therapy, lesion characteristics, postoperative complications, and short- and long-term outcomes were recorded., Results: Postoperative complications included complete (1/11) or partial (2/11) dehiscence of the conjunctival flap and fascia lata graft, postoperative pneumonia (1/11), intermittent hypercreatinemia (2/11) and mild uveitis after trimming of the conjunctival flap (9/10). The donor sites healed without complications (11/11). A satisfactory short-term outcome (at cessation of medical therapy) was achieved in all horses (11/11). Long-term follow-up (median 29 months, range 7-127 months) was available for 10/11 horses. A comfortable eye with functional vision was achieved in 9/10 horses with long-term follow-up, including 3/4 horses with prior corneal perforation and 1/11 horses in which the fascia lata graft completely dehisced 15 days after surgery. Enucleation was required in a single horse (1/10) after phthisis bulbi developed 7 months postoperatively., Conclusion: Fascia lata grafting with conjunctival flap overlay appears to be a viable solution for globe preservation in horses with ulcerative keratitis and keratomalacia. Long-term ocular comfort with functional visual outcomes can be achieved in most cases with limited concerns for donor site morbidity while bypassing acquisition, storage or lesion-size limitations related to other biomaterials., (© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)
- Published
- 2023
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