Current Perspectives on Equine Hernias: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Strategies

Background: Hernias in horses are common defects of the abdominal wall or diaphragm that may impair performance or lead to life-threatening complications. This review summarizes current knowledge on presentation, diagnosis, and management of the main equine hernia types (umbilical, inguinal/scrotal, ventral, and diaphragmatic). Methods: We conducted a narrative literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for English-language articles published between ۲۰۰۰ and ۲۰۲۴ using the following keywords: “umbilical hernia”, “inguinal hernia”, “ventral hernia”, “diaphragmatic hernia”, “equine hernia”, and “herniorrhaphy”. Relevant clinical reports, case series, and reviews were screened, and key findings were extracted. This is a narrative review. Results: Approximately ۳۵–۵۰ relevant publications were reviewed. Most evidence derives from case reports and small case series. Umbilical hernias are frequent in foals and may be managed conservatively if small; inguinal hernias in adults more often require urgent surgery and are associated with intestinal compromise; diaphragmatic hernia is uncommon but has a high perioperative risk. Comparative data on mesh type or suture material are limited. Conclusion: Early detection and case-by-case surgical planning improve outcomes, but high-quality comparative studies are lacking. Future research should report standardized outcomes (recurrence, complications, return to function) to inform material and technique choice.

کلیدواژه ها:

Umbilical Hernia ، Inguinal Hernia ، Ventral Hernia ، Diaphragmatic Hernia ، Perineal Hernia