Surgeons from Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine have given a facelift to a standard procedure that removes part of a horse's penis secondary to damage or disease.
"The surgery, referred to as a modified Vinsot technique, was performed on 11 geldings and stallions to treat inability to retract the penis, squamous cell carcinoma, and persistent, painful erection," explained Carolyn Arnold, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, lead author on the report describing the operation.
All horses had been treated medically unsuccessfully and removal of part of the penis was deemed the best option for these animals.
Unlike the original surgery, the modified Vinsot technique:
- Is performed in sedated, standing horses instead of under general anesthesia;
- Improved the translocation of the urethra to maintain near-normal urination; and
- Concurrently castrates stallions.
Arnold noted, "The procedure is easy to perform, well-tolerated by the horses, is cosmetically acceptable to the owners, and was associated with few postoperative complications."
This modified approach is advocated for horses that are not good candidates for general anesthesia and is less expensive, since it is performed in sedated, standing horses.
The study, "The use of a modified Vinsot technique for partial phallectomy in 11 standing horses," was published in the July 1, 2010, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The abstract is available on PubMed.
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.