Infections of the Head and Ocular Structures in the Horse

The gold standard of dental care: the juvenile horse

Postpartum evaluation of the foal's head and mouth are performed to detect craniofacial malformations and other congenital defects. Detailed oral examination and diagnostic imaging can provide diagnostic and prognostic information about congenital abnormalities of the mouth or skull. Important abnormalities of foals include wry nose, cleft palate, overbite (parrot mouth), and underbite (monkey mouth, sow mouth). Tumors and cysts can be detected in young horses. In juvenile horses, primary dental care procedures include oral examination, management of sharp enamel points, management of deciduous teeth, and management of wolf teeth. Facial or jaw swellings are also important considerations.

Bovine Anorganic Bone Graft Associated with Platelet-Rich Plasma: Histologic Analysis in Rabbit Calvaria

Autogenous bone tissue has regeneration potential; however, this capacity may not be sufficient in larger bone defects. The aim of this study is to histologically evaluate anorganic bovine bone grafts (GenOx Inorg) with or without platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Two bone lesions were created in calvaria of 12 rabbits. The 24 surgical lesions were separated into 3 groups: coagulous, anorganic, and anorganic with PRP. At the 4-week time point, the animals were euthanized and the grafted area removed, fixed in formalin 10% with phosphate buffered saline, 0.1 M, and embedded in paraffin. The histologic parameters analyzed were new bone filling the defect area, presence of giant cells and particles of the graft, and new bone formation associated with the particles. In the coagulous group, defects were filled with fibrous tissue that attached the periosteum and little bone neoformation in the periphery. In anorganic groups with or without PRP, little new bone formation in the periphery of the defect was observed; however, in the center of some defects there was new bone. Moderate presence of giant cells and little new bone formation was associated with the innumerous graft particles. Histologic results revealed no statistically significant differences among the defects new bone fill between the studied groups (P  =  .64). There was no significant difference in the number of giant cells (P  =  .60), graft particles (P  =  .46), and new bone formation around graft particles (P  =  .26), whether PRP was added or not. Anorganic bone, isolated or mixed with PRP, was biocompatible and osteoconductive, while maintaining bone volume.