Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Membership Examination
June/July 2009
Surgery of Horses Principles
Paper 1
Perusal time: fifteen (15) minutes
Time allowed: two (2) hours after perusal
Answer four (4) from the five (5) questions only
All questions are of equal value
Surgery of Horses Paper 1 Page 1 of 3 Paper 1: Principles of surgery of horses
Answer four (4) from the five (5) questions only.
1. Answer all of the following:
a) Describe your technique for synoviocentesis. 5 marks
b) Describe the typical synovial fluid changes that you should expect to see in an infected synovial structure. 8 marks
c) Describe in detail your treatment regimen of an infected synovial structure with justification, and state what you use for prognostic indicators. 12 marks
2. Answer all of the following:
a) Discuss the principles of wound management for a contaminated wound. 9 marks
b) Describe the various types of wound dressings used in horses, and their applications. 8 marks
c) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of topical wound medicaments used in horses. 8 marks
3. Classify each the following suture materials, including their chemical and physical properties in vivo and their advantages and disadvantages. For each suture material, give one (1) example of when you would use the suture in equine surgery: 5 marks each a) polyglactin 910 b) polydioxanone c) polyglecaprone d) stainless steel e) polybutester.
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Surgery of Horses Paper 1 Page 2 of 3 4. Describe the principles of surgical infection prevention. 25 marks
5. Answer both of the following:
a) Describe in detail how you would perform a radiographic examination of the equine fetlock, including indications, preparation, positioning, views and technique. 15 marks
b) Describe the radiologic interpretation of the equine fetlock joint, using diagrams where appropriate. 10 marks
End of paper
Surgery of Horses Paper 1 Page 3 of 3 Australian College of Veterinary Scientists Membership Examination
June/July 2009
Surgery of Horses
Paper 2 Application
Perusal time: fifteen (15) minutes
Time allowed: two (2) hours after perusal
Answer four (4) from the five (5) questions only
All questions are of equal value
Surgery of Horses Paper 2 Page 1 of 3 Paper 2: Application of surgery of horses
1. A six-year-old thoroughbred breeding stallion is presented to you with paraphimosis after being kicked in the penis by a mare during a breeding two hours prior. Answer both of the following:
a) Describe how you would manage this case acutely. 10 marks
b) Describe the surgical options available for this problem. 15 marks
2. Answer all of the following:
c) Describe the classification of olecranon fractures. 10 marks
d) Describe the aetiology and clinical presentation of such fractures. 5 marks
e) Describe the treatment options for a type 1 olecranon fracture in a four-week-old foal and give a prognosis for each. 10 marks
3. Answer all of the following:
f) Describe your technique for exploratory laparotomy in the horse for abdominal pain (colic). 8 marks
g) Explain how you would identify and correct a right dorsal displacement of the large colon. 8 marks
h) Describe your approach to performing an enterotomy to evacuate the large colon contents during colic surgery. 9 marks
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Surgery of Horses Paper 2 Page 2 of 3 4. A three-year-old thoroughbred gelding is presented for expiratory noise at exercise. Answer both of the following:
a) Describe your workup of the case. 10 marks
b) Provide a list of differential diagnoses, with potential treatments and prognoses for each. 15 marks
5. Describe and justify your recommended surgical approach for each of the following conditions:
a) quittor in a six-year-old hunter mare 6 marks
b) pastern arthrodesis for pastern joint osteoarthritis in the forelimb of a 12-year-old gelding 7 marks
c) management of chronic sepsis of the digital flexor tendon sheath in the forelimb of a five-year-old mare 6 marks
d) an open fracture of the left fourth metatarsal bone in a 15-year-old brood mare. 6 marks
End of paper
Surgery of Horses Paper 2 Page 3 of 3