Post-operative Fertility in Mares with Cervical Defects

Abstract

Cervical lacerations and adhesions occur secondary to trauma of the cervix in mares, and are most commonly associated with parturition, abortion, or breeding injuries. Such defects affect cervical integrity and may lead to infertility due to chronic uterine infections. Mares that become pregnant are also at risk for ascending placentitis, abortions and septic foals. Surgery is the treatment of choice for cervical defects and has minimal risks associated. We selected variables in this study that were not assessed in past studies and include: type of lesion (laceration, adhesion, or both), location of lesion (dorsal, ventral or lateral), duration of infertility prior to surgery, and incidence of defect recurrence. This study examined if certain types of lesions were more successfully treated with surgery relative to others. It will also assess the affect or prior chronicity of barren state, uterine infections and the age of the mare have on prognosis. Mares diagnosed with a cervical defect and had surgical repair within a 24 month barren state had a 67.24% post-operative fertility rate, while mares that did not undergo surgery or had been barren for greater than 24 months prior to surgery had a fertility rate of 41.78% (p=0.0003). These findings indicate that expedient diagnosis and surgical treatment are necessary to optimize the mare's fertility.