Radical Eye Exenteration and Second Intention Healing in Horses: A Case Series

Exenteration of an eye may be necessary in clinical practice for a variety of disease processes. Specifically, neoplastic processes may require wide excision margins that may not allow primary closure of the surgical site. This report describes a series of horses undergoing unilateral radical eye exenteration for which primary closure was not possible because of the extent of tissue excised. For each case, the underlying pathology, surgical technique, perioperative treatments, and outcome are described. Six cases were treated of which three survive at this time, two were euthanized because of recurrence, and one was euthanized for unrelated problem. Radical exenteration of the eye with wide margins and second intention healing is easy to perform and well tolerated in horses. It should be considered when extensive resection is required for instance in neoplastic processes. Aftercare is required as for all wounds that heal by second intention; time from surgery to epithelialization is approximately 4 months.