Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedic surgery involves surgical procedures performed to diagnose and treat lame horses, including those with fractures, joint, tendon or ligament disease. Our orthopaedic surgeons also perform back surgery.

We have three surgical diplomats based at the hospital, Jo Suthers BVM&S MPhil CertES(Soft Tissue) DipECVS MRCVS, Henry Tremaine BVetMed MPhil CertES(Soft Tissue) DipECVS DipEVDC FHEA FRCVS and Therese de Souza MA VetMB DipECVS MRCVS.

Jo, Henry & Therese are European Recognised Specialists in Equine Surgery and highly experienced orthopaedic surgeons. 

The anaesthesia team is headed by Richard Hepburn BVSc MS(Hons) CertEM(IntMed) DipACVIM MRCVS ACVIM & RCVS Specialist in Equine Medicine.

We have separate theatres for orthopaedic and abdominal surgery which are fully equipped for minimally invasive surgery (arthroscopy and laparoscopy), fracture repair (AO/ASIF), abdominal surgery and general surgery. 

Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery on joints) is our most commonly performed procedure and is used to remove bone fragments and damaged tissue from joints, tendon sheaths and bursae. It is also often used to treat infected joints/tendon sheaths and has dramatically improved the prognosis for recovery from these life threatening conditions.

Fracture repair using AO/ASIF techniques is carried out both under general anaesthetic or standing sedation if appropriate for the individual case.

We have developed a technique for treatment of impinging dorsal spinous processes ("kissing spines") in the standing patient with reduced incision size and tissue disruption thus reducing recovery time, the risk to the patient and the cost.