Veterinary surgeons at the University of California, Davis, successfully reconstructed the skull and facial bones of Tessa, a 5-year-old border collie that suffered severe injuries after being kicked by a horse. The case was featured as the university's "Case of the Month" for September 2026.
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Tessa was admitted to the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital approximately one hour after the incident, presenting with significant facial swelling, a sunken right eye, and nasal bleeding. Initial findings included detectable fractures in her temporal and midface regions. Imaging revealed extensive trauma, confirming fractures in the right temporal, orbital, nasal, and maxillary bones, along with bleeding in the nasal sinuses.
The surgical team, led by Boaz Arzi, DVM, chief of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, along with oral medicine fellow Serena Bonacini and oral and maxillofacial surgery fellow Ingrid Tundo, undertook the reconstruction. Arzi noted that Tessa's injuries were among the most extensive seen, with bones sufficiently displaced to cause misalignment of her eye. The surgical team employed three titanium miniplates and 16 screws to stabilize the fractures and restore normal eye function. A postoperative CT scan confirmed the correct placement of the materials and successful reduction of the fractures.
Following the surgery, Tessa was monitored overnight and began eating the next day. Three days post-operation, she returned to the hospital to have a protective stent bandage removed. This bandage helps safeguard surgical sites and reduce swelling. At a two-week follow-up, Tessa's owner Andrea Barbee reported significant recovery, noting that Tessa was eager to resume play with her Frisbee.
Tessa has been cleared to return to activity and is now participating in herding trials involving sheep, ducks, and geese. UC Davis plans a follow-up CT scan in three months to assess the healing of her fractures and the positioning of the surgical plates.