Macroscopic comparison of open Metzenbaum and ultrasound‐guided fasciotomy techniques for surgical treatment of the hindlimb proximal suspensory ligament desmopathy in horses: A cadaveric anatomical study

Key Points

• This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of open versus ultrasound-guided fasciotomy techniques for treating hindlimb proximal suspensory ligament desmopathy in horses.
• Conducted a cadaveric anatomical comparison of two surgical techniques: open Metzenbaum and ultrasound-guided fasciotomy.
• Analyzed intraligamentous splitting and soft-tissue disruption during each technique.
• Compared the extent of damage caused by each technique to assess safety and invasiveness.
• Ultrasound-guided fasciotomy reduced the extent of intraligamentous splitting compared to open techniques.
• Less associated soft-tissue disruption was observed with the ultrasound-guided technique.
• Indicated potential for ultrasound-guided technique to be a safer alternative in clinical cases.