Register

Login

Vet Times logo
+
  • View all news
  • Vets news
  • Vet Nursing news
  • Business news
  • + More
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
  • View all clinical
  • Small animal
  • Livestock
  • Equine
  • Exotics
  • All Jobs
  • Your ideal job
  • Post a job
  • Career Advice
  • Students
About
Contact Us
For Advertisers
NewsClinicalJobs
Vet Times logo

Vets

All Vets newsSmall animalLivestockEquineExoticWork and well-beingOpinion

Vet Nursing

All Vet Nursing newsSmall animalLivestockEquineExoticWork and well-beingOpinion

Business

All Business newsHuman resourcesBig 6SustainabilityFinanceDigitalPractice profilesPractice developments

+ More

VideosPodcastsDigital Edition

The latest veterinary news, delivered straight to your inbox.

Choose which topics you want to hear about and how often.

Vet Times logo 2

About

The team

Advertise with us

Recruitment

Contact us

Vet Times logo 2

Vets

All Vets news

Small animal

Livestock

Equine

Exotic

Work and well-being

Opinion

Vet Nursing

All Vet Nursing news

Small animal

Livestock

Equine

Exotic

Work and well-being

Opinion

Business

All Business news

Human resources

Big 6

Sustainability

Finance

Digital

Practice profiles

Practice developments

Clinical

All Clinical content

Small animal

Livestock

Equine

Exotics

Jobs

All Jobs content

All Jobs

Your ideal job

Post a job

Career Advice

Students

More

All More content

Videos

Podcasts

Digital Edition


Terms and conditions

Complaints policy

Cookie policy

Privacy policy

fb-iconinsta-iconlinkedin-icontwitter-iconyoutube-icon

© Veterinary Business Development Ltd 2025

IPSO_regulated

3 Jan 2025

Hampshire hospital hails ‘remarkable’ equine surgery impact

Liphook Equine Hospital claims to be the first in the UK to perform pioneering keyhole surgery that can keep sports horses in competition for longer.

author_img

Allister Webb

Job Title



Hampshire hospital hails ‘remarkable’ equine surgery impact

The procedure aims to relieve spinal nerve compression.

Pioneering surgery has enabled a “remarkable” transformation in the condition of competition horses treated at a Hampshire equine hospital, according to a senior clinician.

Liphook Equine Hospital has claimed it is the first equine practice in the UK to perform the foraminotomy procedure, a form of keyhole surgery intended to correct spinal nerve compression.

Team leader Rachel Tucker, a European specialist in equine surgery, said the team was “extremely proud” of its work, which has seen six horses undergo the procedure so far.

‘Minimally invasive’

She said: “The surgery is minimally invasive, but it is a very delicate procedure to perform because you are working very close to the spinal cord.

“Due to the location, the surgery is performed down a single portal under direct visualisation using a camera, guided by ultrasound and x-ray.

“What has been remarkable so far has been the rapid recovery of the horses, who have been home and out in a small paddock within a few days of surgery with some showing rapid signs of improved comfort and movement.”

Germany

Dr Tucker undertook training in Germany, where the surgery was first performed in horses, and at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London, where similar surgery is carried out on humans before performing the operations.

She added: “Enlargement of the articular process joints of the lower neck is a relatively common finding in horses, but occasionally this can cause compression and irritation of the spinal nerves.

“The foraminotomy procedure means horses experiencing nerve pain can be made comfortable and have a good chance of returning to ridden work and a competition career.

“We are very pleased with how the procedures at Liphook went. Our patients are continuing to recover well and we are looking forward to following their progress in the future.”

Liphook Equine Hospital surgeon Rachel Tucker.
Liphook Equine Hospital surgeon Rachel Tucker.