Computed tomographic study of the effect of a tongue-tie on hyoid apparatus position and nasopharyngeal dimensions in anesthetized horses.
Abstract: To determine the effect of manual tongue protrusion on the dimensions of the hyoid apparatus, nasopharynx, and oropharynx in anesthetized horses. tongue protrusion on the dimensions of the hyoid. Methods: 5 adult horses. Methods: Horses were anesthetized and positioned in sternal recumbency for 2 sequential computed tomographic (CT) scans. Images were acquired with the tongue in a natural position inside the mouth. Then, the tongue was pulled rostrally and secured, and a second CT scan was performed. Dorsoventral length of the hyoid apparatus and angles of the basisphenoid, basihyoid, and ceratohyoid were measured on 3-dimensional reconstructed CT images. Cross-sectional diameters and areas of the nasopharynx and oropharynx were determined on reformatted images in the transverse and longitudinal planes, using osseous landmarks for consistency. Results were tested between the 2 groups to determine significant differences. Results: We were unable to detect a significant difference between any of the lengths or angles of the hyoid apparatus measured with or without rostral protrusion of the tongue. Similarly, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal diameters and cross-sectional areas were not significantly different with or without rostral protrusion of the tongue. Conclusions: Tying the tongue rostrally out of a horse's mouth did not influence the position of the hyoid apparatus or dimensions of the nasopharynx or oropharynx in anesthetized horses. Currently, no data suggest that application of a tongue-tie is effective for maintaining stability and patency of the nasopharyngeal or orolaryngeal airways in horses during races.
Publication Date: 2002-01-05 PubMed ID: 11763172DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.1865Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the impact of tongue-tie on the positioning of the hyoid apparatus and the dimensions of the nasopharynx and oropharynx in anaesthetized horses. The study finds that manually pulling the tongue forward does not significantly alter the dimensions or positioning of these structures.
Methods
- The study involved 5 adult horses. These horses were anaesthetized for the purposes of this study.
- Each horse was placed in sternal recumbency (lying on their chest) during two sequential computed tomographic (CT) scans.
- In the first scan, the tongue of the horse was left in its natural position within the mouth. In the second scan, the tongue was manually moved forward (rostrally) and held in place.
- Three-dimensional CT images were created and used to measure the dorsoventral (back-to-front) length of the hyoid apparatus (a series of bones that support the tongue) and the angles of the basisphenoid, basihyoid, and ceratohyoid bones that make up part of the hyoid apparatus.
- Using osseous (bony) landmarks for consistency, diameters and cross-sectional areas of the nasopharynx and oropharynx were determined on reformatted images in both the transverse (across) and longitudinal (lengthwise) planes.
Results
- The results showed no significant difference in any of the measurements taken of the hyoid apparatus when the tongue was in its natural position compared to when it was pulled forward.
- Similarly, no significant differences were detected in the dimensions of the nasopharynx and oropharynx, regardless of the position of the tongue.
Conclusions
- The results indicate that applying a tongue-tie (pulling the tongue forward out of the horse’s mouth) did not influence the position of the hyoid apparatus or the dimensions of the nasopharynx or oropharynx in anesthetized horses.
- In the context of horse racing, the study could find no evidence to suggest that tongue-ties are effective in maintaining the stability or patency (openness) of the nasopharyngeal or orolaryngeal airways during races.
Cite This Article
APA
Cornelisse CJ, Rosenstein DS, Derksen FJ, Holcombe SJ.
(2002).
Computed tomographic study of the effect of a tongue-tie on hyoid apparatus position and nasopharyngeal dimensions in anesthetized horses.
Am J Vet Res, 62(12), 1865-1869.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.1865 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48624, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Anesthesia / veterinary
- Animals
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Hyoid Bone / anatomy & histology
- Hyoid Bone / physiology
- Nasopharynx / anatomy & histology
- Nasopharynx / physiology
- Restraint, Physical / veterinary
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
- Tongue / anatomy & histology
- Tongue / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Veerasammy B, Delli-Rocili M, Jensen M, Cribb N, Zur Linden A. Diagnostic imaging of a basihyoid bone fracture and partial avulsion of the medial pterygoid muscle in a horse. Can Vet J 2020 Jan;61(1):44-48.
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