In horses, surgical site infections (SSIs) are multifactorial complications influenced by patient-related, procedural, and environmental factors. While perioperative contamination has been extensively studied in the operating theater, the anesthetic induction and recovery environment has received limited attention. The aim of this study was to characterize bacterial contamination within an equine anesthetic induction and recovery stall and to evaluate its spatial and temporal distribution. Environmental samples were collected from four predefined locations within the stall at three time points: before patient admission, after recovery from general anesthesia, and after routine cleaning and disinfection. Samples were analyzed using standard aerobic culture techniques, and bacterial species were identified. Bacterial contamination was detected at all sampling locations and time points. Contamination increased significantly after recovery from general anesthesia and was most pronounced in areas associated with moisture retention, such as the groove between floor tiles. The bacterial species identified were predominantly opportunistic environmental organisms. No direct association between environmental contamination and surgical site infections could be established. However, the constant presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria indicates that the anesthetic induction and recovery stall represents a relevant component of the perioperative environment. These findings support the inclusion of the recovery area in infection control strategies aimed at reducing perioperative risk in equine surgical patients.

Despite the wide range of therapeutic options currently available for equine sarcoids, recurrence of these lesions remains a major clinical challenge. Consequently, the identification of effective strategies for the management of recurrent sarcoids remains an important objective in equine oncology. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of surgical cytoreduction combined with intraoperative electrochemotherapy in horses affected by recurrent equine sarcoids. Medical records of horses treated between July 2018 and August 2025 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Bologna were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included signalment, lesion location, clinical subtype, lesion size, chemotherapeutic agent used, recurrence status, and follow-up duration. Fourteen horses presenting 23 recurrent sarcoid lesions met the inclusion criteria. Recurrence was evaluated at both the lesion and horse levels. Local tumour control was achieved in 16 of 23 lesions (69.6%). Recurrence was observed in 7 lesions, corresponding to a lesion-based recurrence rate of 30.4%, and in 5 of 14 horses (35.7%). Malignant and fibroblastic lesions showed higher recurrence rates than other clinical subtypes, whereas larger lesions tended to recur more frequently than smaller lesions. No significant differences were identified between cisplatin- and carboplatin-treated lesions. Surgical cytoreduction combined with intraoperative electrochemotherapy provided encouraging local tumour control in a population composed exclusively of recurrent sarcoids. This treatment protocol may represent a valuable therapeutic option for horses with local recurrence of sarcoids, although larger prospective studies are required to further define prognostic factors and long-term outcomes.

Equine sports medicine is increasingly oriented toward objective, field-based monitoring systems that support both performance optimization and welfare assessment. In this context, smartphone-based technologies have emerged as accessible tools capable of integrating data acquisition, processing, and interpretation within a single platform. This narrative review aims to examine the role of smartphones in equine sports medicine, focusing on their function as standalone sensing devices and as gateways for wearable and external sensor systems. The analysis is based on a structured synthesis of current literature addressing technological foundations, including embedded sensors, connectivity architectures, and artificial intelligence-driven data processing, as well as their clinical applications across locomotor, cardiovascular, respiratory, behavioural, and thermoregulatory domains. Evidence indicates that smartphone-based systems improve the feasibility of longitudinal monitoring and facilitate real-time decision-making in field conditions, while enhancing communication between veterinarians, trainers, and owners. However, their performance remains influenced by acquisition conditions, system variability, and algorithmic constraints, requiring careful validation and contextual interpretation. In addition, challenges related to data governance, privacy, and ethical use remain insufficiently addressed. Overall, smartphone-based technologies represent enabling tools that support a transition toward more integrated, data-driven, and welfare-oriented management of the equine athlete, while highlighting the need for standardisation and regulatory development.

Accurate early prognostic assessment is a central aspect of clinical decision-making in horses presenting with colic. Despite the availability of multiple clinical and laboratory parameters, reliable biomarkers that provide useful information at the time of admission remain limited. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a non-specific indicator of systemic inflammation that has recently been validated for automated point-of-care use in horses. Its behaviour in equine colic has not been previously characterised. This study included 85 horses admitted for colic at two university referral hospitals. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was measured at admission in all horses and again approximately 24 h after surgery in a subset of surgical cases. Horses were classified as medically managed, surgical survivors or surgical non-survivors. Group comparisons were performed using non-parametric statistical methods, and associations with survival were evaluated. The admission erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly lower in surgical non-survivors compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate rose in surviving horses within 24 h, while it barely changed among non-survivors, and there were no significant changes among surgical values. Actually, these observations suggest that low erythrocyte sedimentation rates on admission are associated with low chances of survival for horses undergoing colic surgery and thus make these rates a feasible additional prognostic indicator for equine colic.

Tibial fractures in beef cattle are a significant clinical challenge, particularly in animals weighing over 300 kg, where surgical treatment is often discouraged due to poor prognosis. This study evaluated the use of full limb double transfixation pin casting (TPC) in field settings for treating tibial fractures in 11 beef cattle weighing between 260 and 480 kg. All animals received the same surgical approach, involving pin placement both proximal and distal to the fracture site, followed by application of a fiberglass cast encompassing the entire limb. The short-term outcome was positive in 90.9% of cases, with two animals not surviving to cast removal. A long-term positive outcome—defined as completing the production cycle and reaching slaughter weight—was achieved in 72.7% of cases. All surviving animals exhibited some residual lameness, but none experienced functional limitations or carcass devaluation. These results support the feasibility and effectiveness of a full limb cast with double transfixation pinning for tibial fracture repair in heavy cattle under field conditions, offering a cost-effective and practical alternative to internal fixation or Thomas splint casts. Further studies are encouraged to confirm these findings and better assess outcomes in open fracture cases.

Oxidized cellulose (OC) and oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) are bioabsorbable polysaccharide-based materials widely used in surgery for topical hemostasis. Beyond their established hemostatic role, increasing attention has been directed toward their potential antimicrobial activity, primarily attributed to local acidification following carboxyl group dissociation. Discussing the possible implications of the antibacterial properties of OC/ORC in veterinary surgical practice, this review critically examines the existing evidence. In vitro studies show that viable bacterial counts are significantly reduced in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Historical in vivo animal models further support a reduction in bacterial recovery in contaminated tissues treated with OC. However, contemporary veterinary clinical trials specifically evaluating surgical site infection (SSI) outcomes remain limited. Documented limitations include variability in formulation, quantity-dependent degradation kinetics, and the potential for foreign body reactions when excessive material is retained. Current evidence suggests that OC may provide adjunctive antimicrobial effects under controlled experimental conditions, primarily in vitro and in standardized animal models, but these properties should be interpreted with caution, and its role should be integrated within comprehensive infection prevention strategies rather than considered a substitute for established perioperative protocols.