Assessment of the efficacy of composite surgery for the treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in a group of 53 racing Thoroughbreds (1990-1996).
Abstract: There has been no objectively assessed case-control study of the efficacy of surgery to correct dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) previously reported. Objective: Composite surgery has a beneficial result on racing performance in horses affected with DDSP as compared to a matched control population. Methods: Race records were obtained for 53 racing Thoroughbreds which underwent composite staphylectomy, sternothyrohyoideus myectomy and ventriculectomy for correction of idiopathic DDSP at the University of Bristol between 1990 and 1996. Each surgical case was matched for age, sex and training yard with 2 control horses. The racing performance, based on prize money won, of surgical cases and control horses were compared for 3 races run before and after the date of surgery. Results: Ninety-two percent of the surgical cases returned to racing after surgery. There was a significant increase in earnings of the surgical group before and after surgery (P = 0.011), but there was no significant difference in earnings of the control group before and after the date of surgery (P = 0335). Sixty percent of the surgical group had higher earnings after surgery than before, compared to 40% of controls. When horses which underwent surgery were ranked relative to their 2 matched controls, surgical cases did not significantly change in rank (P = 033), whereas control horses significantly decreased in rank (P = 0.012). Additionally, horses within the surgical group were more likely (P < 0.01) to start in 3 post operative races than those in the control group. Conclusions: Composite surgery had a beneficial effect on racing performance of horses afflicted with idiopathic DDSP, and further studies to evaluate objectively the usefulness of other surgical techniques are warranted.
Publication Date: 2004-03-25 PubMed ID: 15038442DOI: 10.2746/0425164044868701Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Athletic Performance
- Case Reports
- Clinical Study
- Clinical Symptoms
- Comparative Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Equine Health
- Horse Racing
- Horses
- Laryngeal Dysfunction
- Performance Horses
- Post-Operative Period
- Respiratory Health
- Surgery
- Thoroughbreds
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
Summary
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The research examines the effectiveness of composite surgery for the treatment of a condition known as dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses, indicating that such surgery may have a positive impact on their racing performance.
Objective and Research Approach
The researchers aimed to conduct an objectively assessed case-control study to determine the efficacy of composite surgery in racing Thoroughbreds suffering from DDSP, a condition yet to be explored in previous studies. The composite surgery included interventions such as staphylectomy, sternothyrohyoideus myectomy, and ventriculectomy.
- The study involved racing records from 53 Thoroughbreds that underwent composite surgery at the University of Bristol between 1990 and 1996.
- Each surgical case was matched for age, sex, and training with two control horses that did not undergo the procedure.
- The racing performance of surgical cases and controls was compared based on their prize money won, three races run before, and after the date of surgery.
Study Results
- A large majority (92%) of the horses that underwent surgery returned to racing.
- There was a significant increase in the earnings of the surgical group after the procedure, indicating improved racing performance. However, no such rise was observed in the control group’s earnings.
- 60% of the surgical group recorded higher earnings after the operation as against 40% in the control group. This again suggests that the surgery had a positive impact on racing performance.
- While surgical cases did not significantly change in overall rankings, control horses actually decreased in rankings. Horses undergoing surgery were also more likely to participate in three post-operative races compared to control horses.
Conclusion
The results of the study suggest that composite surgery has a beneficial effect on the racing performance of horses affected with DDSP, further advocating for objective evaluations of other surgical techniques.
Cite This Article
APA
Barakzai SZ, Johnson VS, Baird DH, Bladon B, Lane JG.
(2004).
Assessment of the efficacy of composite surgery for the treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in a group of 53 racing Thoroughbreds (1990-1996).
Equine Vet J, 36(2), 175-179.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044868701 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Large Animal Hospital, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Epiglottis / surgery
- Female
- Horses / abnormalities
- Horses / surgery
- Male
- Palate, Soft / abnormalities
- Palate, Soft / surgery
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Sports
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Jean D, Picandet V, Céleste C, Macieira S, Cesarini C, Morisset S, Rossier Y, Marcoux M. Palatal sclerotherapy for the treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in 51 standardbred racehorses. Can Vet J 2011 Nov;52(11):1203-8.
- Marcoux M, Picandet V, Céleste C, Macieira S, Morisset S, Rossier Y, Schambourg M, Jean D. Palatal sclerotherapy: a potentially useful treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate in juvenile standardbred racehorses. Can Vet J 2008 Jun;49(6):587-91.
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