Assessment of the efficacy of an abductor muscle prosthesis for treatment of laryngeal hemiplegia in horses.

This study assesses the effectiveness of using four types of abductor muscle prosthesis for treating a condition called laryngeal hemiplegia in horses. The study found that the most successful treatment involved a surgery called ventriculectomy and two prostheses, with the treated horses showing little difference in racing performance or earnings compared to non-treated horses.

Research Objective and Method

• The primary aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of four variations of an intervention (abductor muscle prosthesis) for treating laryngeal hemiplegia in horses.
• One hundred fifty-three horses were assessed using a questionnaire while data from 100 Thoroughbred racehorses was utilized for survival analysis to compare their performance and earnings with a control group of 400 horses.

Key Findings

• According to the questionnaire responses, the procedure which combined a ventriculectomy and two prostheses was seen as the most effective. This was statistically significant with a p-value less than 0.01.
• The same procedure also resulted in the lowest incidence of residual stertor, a loud, heavy snoring sound. This finding was even more statistically significant with a p-value less than 0.001.
• The survival analysis found no significant difference between the group of horses that received the treatment and the control group. This suggests that the treatment did not negatively impact the horses’ racing ability and earnings compared to horses that did not receive the treatment.

Conclusion

• The results indicate the effectiveness of abductor muscle prosthesis, especially when combined with a ventriculectomy, for the treatment of laryngeal hemiplegia in horses. Despite undergoing treatment, the horses did not show any significant drop in racing performance or earnings, suggesting the intervention did not interfere with their racing capability.
• This research paves the way for further studies into innovative treatment options for equine laryngeal hemiplegia and could be integral in improving the health and performance of professional racehorses.