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Investigations into the role of the thyrohyoid muscles in the pathogenesis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses.
Abstract: Contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate during exercise so that management of this condition could be enhanced. Objective: That the thyrohyoid muscles play an important role in the stability of the laryngo-palatal relationship and that dysfunction of these muscles leads to dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) during exercise. Methods: Ten horses were exercised on a high-speed treadmill under 4 different treatment conditions: control conditions (n = 10), after resection of thyrohyoid muscles (TH, n = 10), after sham-treatment (n = 5), or after restoration of function of the thyrohyoid muscles with surgical sutures (prosthesis-treatment, n = 6). During trials, the following determinations were made: videoendoscopy of the upper airway, gait frequency and pharyngeal and tracheal static pressures. Results: None of the 10 horses developed DDSP during 2 separate treadmill-exercise trials under the control conditions. Seven of the 10 horses developed DDSP after resection of the TH muscles, 4 of 5 of these horses still experienced DDSP after sham-treatment, but 5 of 6 horses no longer experienced DDSP at exercise after the prosthesis-treatment. There were significant anomalies in airway pressures, respiratory frequency, and occurrence of DDSP in both the TH resection and sham-treatment conditions compared to control conditions. In contrast, no statistical differences were noted in any of the parameters measured between the prosthesis-treatment and control conditions. Conclusions: That the function of the TH muscles is important to the stability of the laryngo-palatal relationship and plays a role in the pathophysiology of exercise-induced DDSP. Conclusions: Management of horses with DDSP could be enhanced by restoring the function of the TH muscles.
Publication Date: 2003-05-21 PubMed ID: 12755428DOI: 10.2746/042516403776148200Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research focused on the role of the thyrohyoid muscles in horses and their potential relation to a condition called dorsal displacement of the soft palate, occurring during exercise. The intent was to gather data for improving the management of this condition by surmising that restoring the function of the thyrohyoid muscles could alleviate the issue.
Objectives and Methods
In their study, the researchers assumed that the thyrohyoid (TH) muscles are crucial for the stability of the laryngo-palatal relationship. The dysfunction of these muscles, they proposed, leads to dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) during exercise in horses. To test this hypothesis, they subjected ten horses to exercise on a high-speed treadmill in four separate treatment conditions:
- Control conditions: Where no treatment was implemented.
- After resection of thyrohyoid muscles: The TH muscles were surgically removed.
- After sham-treatment: A fake treatment meant to mimic the actual treatment.
- After prosthesis-treatment: The function of the TH muscles was restored with surgical sutures.
During these trials, the researchers inspected the upper airway using videoendoscopy, recorded gait frequencies, and measured pharyngeal and tracheal static pressures.
Findings
The study showed that none of the ten horses developed DDSP during two separate treadmill exercise trials under control conditions. However, seven out of ten horses developed DDSP after their TH muscles were resected. After sham-treatment, four of the five horses continued to experience DDSP, but after prosthesis-treatment, where the function of the TH muscles was restored with surgical sutures, five out of six horses no longer experienced DDSP during exercise. The researchers also identified significant irregularities in airway pressures, respiratory frequency, and occurrence of DDSP in both the TH resection and sham-treatment conditions compared to the control conditions. Conversely, no statistical differences were found in any of the parameters measured between the prosthesis-treatment and control conditions.
Conclusions
Consequently, the researchers concluded that the TH muscles’ function plays a crucial role in the stability of the laryngo-palatal relationship and influences the pathophysiology of exercise-induced DDSP in horses. Thus, restoring the function of TH muscles could potentially improve the management of horses with DDSP. To that effect, the study contributes significantly to the understanding of the pathogenesis and management of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses, by emphasizing the role of the thyrohyoid muscles.
Cite This Article
APA
Ducharme NG, Hackett RP, Woodie JB, Dykes N, Erb HN, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV.
(2003).
Investigations into the role of the thyrohyoid muscles in the pathogenesis of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses.
Equine Vet J, 35(3), 258-263.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516403776148200 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Endoscopy / veterinary
- Epiglottis / physiopathology
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Gait
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Laryngeal Muscles / physiopathology
- Laryngeal Muscles / surgery
- Male
- Palatal Muscles / physiopathology
- Palatal Muscles / surgery
- Palate, Soft / physiopathology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Cassiers V, McNally T. Technique description and outcome evaluation of Thoroughbred racehorses following soft palate thermocautery performed under standing sedation. Vet Med Sci 2024 Sep;10(5):e70018.
- Kozłowska N, Wierzbicka M, Pawliński B, Domino M. Co-Occurrence of Severe Equine Asthma and Palatal Disorders in Privately Owned Pleasure Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 12;13(12).
- Lean NE, Sole-Guitart A, Ahern BJ. Laryngeal tie-forward in standing sedated horses. Vet Surg 2023 Feb;52(2):229-237.
- Fitzharris LE, Hezzell MJ, McConnell AK, Allen KJ. Training the equine respiratory muscles: Ultrasonographic measurement of muscle size. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):295-305.
- Grzeskowiak RM, Schumacher J, Mulon PY, Steiner RC, Cassone L, Anderson DE. Ex-vivo Mechanical Testing of Novel Laryngeal Clamps Used for Laryngeal Advancement Constructs. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:139.
- Cercone M, Olsen E, Perkins JD, Cheetham J, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG. Investigation into pathophysiology of naturally occurring palatal instability and intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses: Thyro-hyoid muscles fatigue during exercise. PLoS One 2019;14(10):e0224524.
- Castillo D, Pitts T. Influence of baclofen on laryngeal and spinal motor drive during cough in the anesthetized cat. Laryngoscope 2013 Dec;123(12):3088-92.
- 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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