Chronic chondritis of the equine arytenoid cartilage.

This research discusses a study on chronic chondritis of the arytenoid cartilage in 7 male Thoroughbred horses that were examined for obstructed upper airway disorders.

Study Description and Findings

• The purpose of the study was to diagnose and investigate the cases of chronic chondritis in the arytenoid cartilage of seven Thoroughbred horses. These horses showed symptoms with a 3 to 6-month progression of exercise intolerance and inspiratory dyspnea (difficulty in breathing) during exercise.
• Upon medical examination through endoscopy, the researchers discovered prominent asymmetry in the rima glottidis (the opening between the vocal cords), partial or complete inability of affected cartilage abduction, and axial displacement in the arytenoid cartilage.
• The less severe cases of this disorder were initially mistaken for laryngeal hemiplegia (a condition where there’s paralysis in the muscles of the larynx).
• In the most severe cases, the researchers found elevated lesions on the affected cartilage which were frequently seen making contact with the cartilage on the opposite side.

Surgical Intervention and Outcomes

• In order to treat this condition, six out of the seven horses underwent subtotal arytenoidectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the affected arytenoid cartilage.
• The histological analysis of the removed cartilage revealed marked lamination of the cartilage with fibrous connective tissue and granulating sinus tracks or channels were observed in three cases.
• The surgical treatment resulted in significant improvement of exercise tolerance in five of the horses, emphasizing that surgery can be an effective treatment for this condition.