When laminitis develops to the point that the hoof wall is restricting blood supply to the laminae and causing further inflammation, a hoof wall resection might be needed. Amy Rucker, DVM, of Midwest Equine in Columbia, Mo., spoke about when to do resections and methods that give veterinarians the best chance for success during the Sept. 17-18 Laminitis West Conference in Monterey, Calif.

In some laminitis cases, the distal (lower) rim of the coffin bone becomes septic (infected) due to compromised blood flow and dying tissues. Rucker explained that fluid resulting from this can travel up the lamellar interface, breaking out at the coronary band. If initial treatment, usually a poultice, doesn't stop the process, the coronary band will swell and prolapse over the hoof wall. The wall then cuts into the swollen tissue, causing further inflammation and restricting blood supply to that tissue.