- Email: [email protected]
Clinica Equina Bagnarola
Hospital of the Month Clinica Equina Bagnarola
C
linica Equina Bagnarola was founded in 1988 by Dr Fabio Torre. The clinic represented the first example of equine referral hospital in Italy and is situated in Bagnarola, near Bologna, in the North of Italy. The clinic consists of a main building that includes an examination room, a room for diagnostic imaging, a laboratory, two surgical theaters, one casting box, two recovery boxes, a pharmacy, and offices. The stable—with 12 boxes, an additional examination room, a small lab, and a storage area for hay and straw—is next to the clinic and is part of an 18th century building. The clinic, in fact, is surrounded by historical buildings, most of them from the 17th century, making this area unique in Italy. Before the clinic was started, a small Standardbred farm was present; and currently, a small farm and training center (including a half-mile track) next to the clinic remain active.
0737-0806/$ - see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2004.11.004
Volume 24, Number 1
Most of the cases are referred by other veterinarians. The caseload consists of nearly 1000 referred cases yearly—40% for surgery. The latter includes both elective and emergency cases. The main work consists of orthopedics. Arthroscopy, internal fixation, and other orthopedic procedures constitute 70% of the surgical cases; whereas emergencies mostly involve colic (about 120 cases per year, 50% surgical) and neonatology. Diagnostic imaging is a well-developed department of the clinic. The radiology department has four radiographic machines, including a 1200-mA unit. Ultrasonography is routinely performed with a machine equipped with 7.5 and 3.5 probes. Dr Torre is proud to offer scintigraphy. The clinic has the latest-generation digital gamma camera with a large rectangular screen, which makes nuclear scintigraphy particularly qualitative and helpful. At the beginning, the clinic population was consisted mostly of Standardbreds, because the region has the main concentration of Standardbred farms, training centers, and racetracks in Italy. Eventually, referral vets brought in different varieties of horses, and now Standardbreds represent only 70% of the cases. Quarter Horses, Show
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Left to right: Dr Marco Bassi Andreasi, Dr Fabio Torre, and Dr Matteo Toniato.
Jumpers, and Thoroughbreds, on the other hand, represent a rapidly expanding group of clients. Dr Fabio Torre graduated in Bologna in 1980. Then he spent several years visiting and working in different
46
hospitals around the world, mostly in the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Germany. After founding the clinic, he started a research program, mostly focused on surgery and orthopedics, and published about 30 articles in refereed journals. He also had presentations in the main Congresses, including AAEP, BEVA, ECVS, and WEVA. In 2002 he became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons. He was founder and is now past president of SIVE, the Italian Association of Equine Practitioners. Among other vets working at the Clinic, Dr Matteo Toniato is responsible for diagnostic imaging, and Dr Marco Bassi Andreasi is in charge of internal medicine and anesthesia. Every year, the clinic sponsors a scientific meeting and workshop. In the past, guest speakers have included Bernhard Huskamp, Joe Foerner, Sheyla Laverty, Bjorn Sandgren, and Steve Reed. In particular, on the first weekend in June the clinic holds an International
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
January 2004
Advanced Equine Orthopedic Seminar and Workshop focusing on aspects of equine orthopedics. In 2003, the meeting featured diagnostic imaging, and Sue Dyson and Mike Ross were invited speakers. In 2004, the topic will be equine joint disease, and invited speakers are C. Wayne McIlwraith, Ian M. Wright, and Maurilio Marcacci (a well-known human orthopedic surgeon).
Volume 24, Number 1
All information about the meeting and the clinic can be found on the clinic’s Web site (in Italian and English): www.clineq.it. The address of the Clinica Equina Bagnarola is Via Armiggia, 25–40050 Bagnarola di Budrio (Bologna). The telephone number is 051-692-07-01 and the fax number is 051-692.20.98. See the clinic’s Web site at www.clineq.it
47
C
linica Equina Bagnarola was founded in 1988 by Dr Fabio Torre. The clinic represented the first example of equine referral hospital in Italy and is situated in Bagnarola, near Bologna, in the North of Italy. The clinic consists of a main building that includes an examination room, a room for diagnostic imaging, a laboratory, two surgical theaters, one casting box, two recovery boxes, a pharmacy, and offices. The stable—with 12 boxes, an additional examination room, a small lab, and a storage area for hay and straw—is next to the clinic and is part of an 18th century building. The clinic, in fact, is surrounded by historical buildings, most of them from the 17th century, making this area unique in Italy. Before the clinic was started, a small Standardbred farm was present; and currently, a small farm and training center (including a half-mile track) next to the clinic remain active.
0737-0806/$ - see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2004.11.004
Volume 24, Number 1
Most of the cases are referred by other veterinarians. The caseload consists of nearly 1000 referred cases yearly—40% for surgery. The latter includes both elective and emergency cases. The main work consists of orthopedics. Arthroscopy, internal fixation, and other orthopedic procedures constitute 70% of the surgical cases; whereas emergencies mostly involve colic (about 120 cases per year, 50% surgical) and neonatology. Diagnostic imaging is a well-developed department of the clinic. The radiology department has four radiographic machines, including a 1200-mA unit. Ultrasonography is routinely performed with a machine equipped with 7.5 and 3.5 probes. Dr Torre is proud to offer scintigraphy. The clinic has the latest-generation digital gamma camera with a large rectangular screen, which makes nuclear scintigraphy particularly qualitative and helpful. At the beginning, the clinic population was consisted mostly of Standardbreds, because the region has the main concentration of Standardbred farms, training centers, and racetracks in Italy. Eventually, referral vets brought in different varieties of horses, and now Standardbreds represent only 70% of the cases. Quarter Horses, Show
45
Left to right: Dr Marco Bassi Andreasi, Dr Fabio Torre, and Dr Matteo Toniato.
Jumpers, and Thoroughbreds, on the other hand, represent a rapidly expanding group of clients. Dr Fabio Torre graduated in Bologna in 1980. Then he spent several years visiting and working in different
46
hospitals around the world, mostly in the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Germany. After founding the clinic, he started a research program, mostly focused on surgery and orthopedics, and published about 30 articles in refereed journals. He also had presentations in the main Congresses, including AAEP, BEVA, ECVS, and WEVA. In 2002 he became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons. He was founder and is now past president of SIVE, the Italian Association of Equine Practitioners. Among other vets working at the Clinic, Dr Matteo Toniato is responsible for diagnostic imaging, and Dr Marco Bassi Andreasi is in charge of internal medicine and anesthesia. Every year, the clinic sponsors a scientific meeting and workshop. In the past, guest speakers have included Bernhard Huskamp, Joe Foerner, Sheyla Laverty, Bjorn Sandgren, and Steve Reed. In particular, on the first weekend in June the clinic holds an International
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
January 2004
Advanced Equine Orthopedic Seminar and Workshop focusing on aspects of equine orthopedics. In 2003, the meeting featured diagnostic imaging, and Sue Dyson and Mike Ross were invited speakers. In 2004, the topic will be equine joint disease, and invited speakers are C. Wayne McIlwraith, Ian M. Wright, and Maurilio Marcacci (a well-known human orthopedic surgeon).
Volume 24, Number 1
All information about the meeting and the clinic can be found on the clinic’s Web site (in Italian and English): www.clineq.it. The address of the Clinica Equina Bagnarola is Via Armiggia, 25–40050 Bagnarola di Budrio (Bologna). The telephone number is 051-692-07-01 and the fax number is 051-692.20.98. See the clinic’s Web site at www.clineq.it
47