EQUINE | Abstracts
Cranial Nuchal Bursitis
Diagnosis, treatment and outcome of cranial nuchal bursitis in
30 horses
A. L. Bergren,
G. A. Abuja,
K. A. Bubeck,
T. J. P. Spoormakers,
J. M. García-López
Background
No large retrospective case series describing the treat-
ment and outcomes following diagnosis of cranial nu-
chal bursitis have been published.
Objective
To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic tech-
niques, treatment and outcome of horses suffering
from cranial nuchal bursitis and to determine their
outcome after medical or surgical treatment.
Study design
Retrospective case series.
Methods
Medical records (1990–2014) of two referral centres
were reviewed for signalment, diagnostic features,
method of treatment (medical, surgical or both) and
outcome.
Results
The median age of horses was 13 years (range 5–22
years) and follow‐up time ranged from 12 to 108
months. Fourteen horses were treated medically and
20 horses were treated surgically. Of those horses
treated medically, four horses had recurrence of clini-
cal signs requiring subsequent surgical treatment.
Overall, 41.7% of horses had recurrence of clinical
signs following treatment and 66.7% of horses were
able to return to their previous level of exercise. Five
horses underwent more than one surgical procedure
due to recurrence of clinical signs. Of those horses
treated solely surgically, 28.6% of the horses had re-
currence of clinical signs and 78.6% returned to their
previous level of exercise. Of those horses treated
solely medically, 33.3% had recurrence of clinical
signs and 66.7% returned to their previous level of
exercise. Of those horses treated surgically following
failed medical management, 100% had recurrence of
clinical signs and 25% returned to their previous level
of exercise.
Main limitations
Retrospective design with small sample number.
Conclusions
Nuchal bursitis can be successfully managed with ei-
ther medical or surgical treatment. Prognosis for return
to work tends to be worse in horses requiring surgical
intervention following failed medical management.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.12787/full
• Volume 20 Issue 1 | April 2018 •
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