A study of an electrodiagnostic technique for the evaluation of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy.
Abstract: The electrodiagnostic measurement of the thoracolaryngeal reflex (TLR) ('slap test') latency was compared to 5 other diagnostic techniques used for evaluation of laryngeal function, namely laryngeal muscle palpation, resting and immediately postexercise endoscopic examinations, and palpable and endoscopic responses to the TLR. Compared to resting endoscopy, the electrodiagnostic measurement of TLR latency was not found to be an accurate test for the evaluation of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), nor was laryngeal muscle palpation or the endoscopic response to the TLR. Twenty-five (71%) of 35 Clydesdale horses examined were affected by RLN; 16 (46%) had mild, 5 (14%) moderate, 3 (9%) severe hemiparesis and 1 (3%) had total laryngeal paralysis. Within these 35 horses, physical traits such as height or neck length did not correlate with the incidence or severity of RLN. Ten control ponies showed no evidence of abnormal laryngeal function.
Publication Date: 2001-09-18 PubMed ID: 11558740DOI: 10.2746/042516401776254826Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article is about an investigation into the usefulness of different diagnostic techniques in evaluating equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), a common cause of poor performance and abnormal noise production in horses. The study found that some commonly used techniques were not as accurate as hoped.
Research Method
- The authors conducted a comparative study to evaluate the reliability of six diagnostic techniques used to assess laryngeal function in horses. These included laryngeal muscle palpation, resting and immediately postexercise endoscopic examinations, palpable and endoscopic responses to the thoracolaryngeal reflex (TLR), and electrodiagnostic measurement of TLR latency (a method dubbed the ‘slap test’).
Results and Analysis
- The research revealed that the electrodiagnostic measurement of TLR latency, along with laryngeal muscle palpation and endoscopic response to the TLR, were not precise tests for evaluating RLN.
- Of the 35 Clydesdale horses studied, 25 (about 71%) were found to have RLN, with varying degrees of severity. The breakdown included 16 horses (46%) with mild, 5 (14%) with moderate, 3 (9%) with severe hemiparesis (weakness on one side), and 1(3%) with total laryngeal paralysis.
- The study also entailed checking for any correlation of physical traits, such as height or neck length, with the incidence or severity of RLN. However, no such correlation was found.
- As a control group, ten ponies were included in the study, all of them showed no signs of abnormal laryngeal function.
Implications
- The study indicates a need for more reliable diagnostic tools in the detection of equine RLN. The discussed alternatives were found lacking in accuracy as compared to the resting endoscopy.
- It also dispels the possibility of drawing a connection between certain physical traits and the incidence or severity of RLN, as none was found in this study. Deeper exploration in this area of study is advised.
Cite This Article
APA
Hawe C, Dixon PM, Mayhew IG.
(2001).
A study of an electrodiagnostic technique for the evaluation of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy.
Equine Vet J, 33(5), 459-465.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516401776254826 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Midlothian, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cranial Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
- Cranial Nerve Diseases / physiopathology
- Cranial Nerve Diseases / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Electromyography / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Laryngeal Diseases / diagnosis
- Laryngeal Diseases / physiopathology
- Laryngeal Diseases / veterinary
- Laryngeal Muscles / physiopathology
- Laryngoscopy / veterinary
- Male
- Neural Conduction
- Palpation / veterinary
- Paresis / diagnosis
- Paresis / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / physiopathology
- Reflex / physiology
- Respiratory Function Tests / veterinary
- Severity of Illness Index
- Vocal Cord Paralysis / diagnosis
- Vocal Cord Paralysis / physiopathology
- Vocal Cord Paralysis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Cercone M, Hokanson CM, Olsen E, Ducharme NG, Mitchell LM, Piercy RJ, Cheetham J. Asymmetric recurrent laryngeal nerve conduction velocities and dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle electromyographic characteristics in clinically normal horses. Sci Rep 2019 Feb 25;9(1):2713.
- Draper ACE, Piercy RJ. Pathological classification of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Jul;32(4):1397-1409.
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