Modified partial posthectomy surgery for chronic preputial prolapse in a Bos indicus bull

Abstract

Preputial prolapses in bulls are frequently encountered by bovine reproductive practitioners and are common physical conditions impairing a bull’s ability to copulate. Marked chronicity or unsuccessful medical management warrant surgical correction. Preputial resection/circumcision (also known as ‘reefing procedure’) or preputial amputation are 2 well-documented procedures performed to restore penile function. It is widely believed that preputial resection is considered superior to amputation, as with the latter procedure, strictures and wound contracture stenosis are common reported sequelae. Therefore, surgery should aim at preserving tissue and resolving the prolapse without interference to complete penile extension. We adapted novel surgical features in a bull with a chronically prolapsed prepuce: an updated preputial amputation technique (i.e. modified posthectomy) and used a single-layer closure pattern with rapidly absorbable suture (not reported for bulls). There was total resolution and bull returned to service. This case illustrated that severe and chronically prolapsed prepuces can be successfully repaired using this updated modification of a historical technique.