Periarterial sympathectomy, a treatment option for the podotrochlosis-sesamoidosis complex. An overview

History of periarterial sympathectomy is described. Ischaemia- and loading theory as pathogenetic origin of podotrochlosis and in cases of sesamoidosis are explained in detail. In former times "Cumarin-therapy" or treatment by vasodilatants were practised. Instead of such a medicamental treatment periarterial sympathectomy combined with fasciotomy was introduced by Dietz and Litzke in 1983 (7). By angiographic method Litzke (19) was able to show the dilatation of the arterial vessels and the rising blood-flow up to 90% and more. Sympathectomy could be demonstrated successfully by accelerated growing of hoof horn, by thermography and by a retrospective clinical study. In this study another 11 patients with podotrochlosis and sesamoidosis were controlled by x-rays one up to four years p. op. It could be shown, that perivascular sympathectomy and fasciotomy are a successful and long time acting therapy in case of podotrochlosis and sesamoidosis in equines.