Barbed Sutures Help Horses With Nephrosplenic Entrapment

Barbed sutures eliminate the need for knot-tying and distribute tension on the suture line more evenly, researchers say.
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

We know horses and barbed wire don’t mesh well. But how about barbed sutures? Italian researchers have recently discovered that this special kind of stitching could be key to correcting one common form of recurrent colic.

Nephrosplenic entrapment occurs when the large colon migrates between the spleen and the abdominal wall and becomes trapped over the nephrosplenic ligament (which attaches the spleen to the left kidney). Veterinarians can try to prevent this recurring problem by closing that nephrosplenic space surgically. They can use stitches, or even a mesh, to cause fibrosis (scarring), which fills the space with tissue so the large colon can’t move into that area anymore.

To close the space correctly, surgeons using normal sutures must tie knots at regular intervals, which can be complicated and time-consuming. Barbed sutures, however, eliminate the need for knot-tying, making the procedure more efficient, said Marco Gandini, DVM, PhD, of the University of Turin Department of Veterinary Sciences, in Grugliasco, Italy.

“Another benefit is that, as has been demonstrated in other studies (involving other kinds of surgeries), barbed sutures distribute the tension on the suture line more evenly,” he said. “This could be beneficial because it can prevent the accumulation of tension at certain points, which could otherwise cause tearing of the splenic or renal capsula,” a tough fibrous layer surrounding the spleen or kidney, respectively

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

Where do you primarily feed your horse?
301 votes · 301 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!