Veterinary Recommendations for Surgical Classification of Headpost Implantation

Yale University
Institutional Animal Care
& Use Committee
New Haven CT
USA 06510

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Veterinary Recommendations for Surgical Classification of Headpost Implantation

VCS veterinarians have developed guidelines for classifying headpost implant surgery based on the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and USDA regulations and are applicable to all species. The Guide and USDA define major surgery as operative procedures that penetrate and expose a body cavity or produce permanent or substantial impairment of physical or physiological function.

Major Surgery:
Procedures that create slots or channels in the bone for anchoring hardware (T screws) and, in doing so, result in exposure of the cranial vault are considered a major surgical procedure.

Minor Surgery:
Headpost implantation surgeries utilizing small screws that thread into bone (e.g. Synthes) for purposes of attaching the headpost and require no cranial penetration beyond that potentially created by the screws are minor surgical procedures. Although a portion of the screws may penetrate the calvarium, the cranial vault is not exposed and physical or physiologic function should not be impaired.

All headpost implantation surgeries will be performed utilizing appropriate anesthesia and stringent aseptic technique.

REVIEWED & APPROVED BY THE IACUC: 6/20/2007