Texas Equine Veterinary Association

www.texasequineva.com | 10 Introduction Injuries to the hoof of the horse are relatively common and can oen have devastating consequences to the soundness and health of the horse. e two most common injuries to the hoof are lacerations and penetrating wounds. e location of the puncture or laceration, the nature of the penetrating object, and the direction of the penetration are all factors that should be used to aid diagnosis and ultimately prognosis of the injury. e direction of the penetration is oen the most useful in determining prognosis as the direction and location of the penetration can oen determine which structures in the hoof could be affected. (Figure 1) Structures within the hoof that could be affected include the digital cushion, third phalanx (coffin bone), navicular bone, distal interphalangeal joint (coffin joint), navicular bursa, deep digital flexor tendon, distal sesamoidean impar ligament, and the digital flexor tendon sheath. Injuries such as lacerations or penetrations at the coronary band of the hoof can also enter the distal interphalangeal joint, digital flexor tendon sheath, navicular bursa, collateral cartilages, and damage numerous tendinous and ligamentous structures as well. Diagnosis Diagnosis of injuries to the hoof and deeper structures is a key component in treatment success of these injuries. Misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed injuries can delay treatment in a potentially life-threatening infection. It is very important to properly diagnose these injuries to allow for a proper prognosis and treatment plan to have success. Clinical evaluation of these injuries to the hoof structures can range from being straightforward to difficult challenges. Oen the duration of the injury and damage to the normal anatomy can lead to a difficult diagnostic challenge. Acute injuries are oen very straightforward as the offending object and location of the penetration is known. In more chronic injuries, the structures of the hoof oen collapse around the penetration and make it more difficult to identify the location and direction of the penetration. Other than presence of a penetration wound, clinical findings are oen non-specific which would include lameness of varying degrees (depending on structures involved and duration of injury), elevated digital pulse, swollen lower limb, and possible synovial structure distension if penetration of these structures has happened. To aid in diagnosis of the site of penetration of Surgical Management of Hoof Injuries by Shem Oliver DVM, Diplomate ACVS Partner/Surgeon Performance Equine Associates (580) 812-2457 Dr. Shem Oliver is a veterinarian and board certified surgeon (Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons) at Performance Equine Associates in ackerville, OK. Dr. Oliver's primary interests are orthopedic and so tissue surgery, sports medicine, and diagnostic imaging of the performance horse. Dr. Oliver was raised on a cattle and horse ranch, in eastern NM, near Fort Sumner. Aer graduating high school, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned both a Bachelors in Animal Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Aer graduation from veterinary school in 2010, Dr. Oliver accepted an internship at Oakridge Equine in Edmond, OK, where he trained under Drs. Mike Major and Brent Hague. In 2011, he entered a three-year large animal surgery residency at Texas A&M University under the mentorship of Dr. Jeff Watkins and many other great surgeons. In 2014 Dr. Oliver joined Performance Equine Associates in ackerville, OK where he is a partner Outside of work, Dr. Oliver enjoys spending time with his family. His wife Lauren, who is originally from Ardmore, teaches at Plainview Elementary. Together they have three daughters. Dr. Oliver also enjoys hunting, fly- fishing, golfing, skiing, and rooting for Oklahoma State sports teams. Dr. Oliver is also a member of the TEVA Board of Directors and active on several committees. He also runs a popular Instagram account full of veterinary content, so give him a follow @osuhorsedoc.

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