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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Outcome analysis of 95 harness racehorses with confirmed dor...
Equine veterinary journal2021; doi: 10.1111/evj.13479

Outcome analysis of 95 harness racehorses with confirmed dorsal displacement of the soft palate treated with laryngeal tie-forward surgery.

Abstract: The laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) procedure is commonly used to treat intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP). There is a wide range in reported efficacy of treating horses with and without a definitive diagnosis of iDDSP. Objective: To evaluate the racing performance of harness racehorses in which iDDSP had been definitely diagnosed and treated solely with the LTF procedure. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Ninety-five harness racehorses were treated with LTF for confirmed iDDSP. A definite diagnosis of iDDSP was made with high-speed treadmill or overground endoscopy. Upper respiratory tract (URT) disorders, short-term complications, and horses returning for recurrence of URT problems were recorded. Performance before and after LTF was assessed by reviewing career race records and comparing performance index (PI), and racing speed marks from the baseline, preoperative, and postoperative periods. The effect of basihyoid-cricoid (BC) net distance shortened on racing performance was assessed. Results: Postoperatively, PI increased in 36/54 (67%, 95% CI 54%-79%) of experienced racehorses, and 44/67 (66%, 54%-77%) established or improved their racing speed mark relative to the preoperative period. As a group, PI decreased by a mean (SE) of 0.9 (0.17) points (P < .001) prior to diagnosis/surgery. Postoperatively, PI increased by 0.5 (0.16) points (P = .003), and racing speed improved by 0.83 (0.22) s (P < .001). Twenty-five percent (17%-34%) and 49% (39%-60%) of horses did not demonstrate a decline in PI and racing speed prior to diagnosis, respectively. Net BC distance shortening did not affect performance postoperatively. Twenty of 95 horses (21%, 13%-29%) had confirmed recurrence of iDDSP 46-708 days postoperatively. Conclusions: Not all horses were evaluated with exercising endoscopy postoperatively. Racehorses inevitably develop other racing-related problems which confound studies of this nature. Conclusions: This study provides scientific support for the use of LTF to treat iDDSP in harness racehorses although iDDSP seems to affect harness racehorses differently as individuals.
© 2021 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-08 PubMed ID: 34101884DOI: 10.1111/evj.13479Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research evaluates the effectiveness of a surgical procedure called the laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) in treating a respiratory disorder in harness racing horses. The study found significant improvement in the horses’ racing performances following the operation, though not all horses responded to the procedure in the same way.

Introduction and Methodology

  • This is a retrospective study that examined the impact of laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) surgery on harness racehorses diagnosed with intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP).
  • A total of 95 horses, all diagnosed with iDDSP via high-speed treadmill or overground endoscopy, underwent the LTF procedure.
  • The study recorded any upper respiratory tract disorders, short-term surgery complications, and confirmed recurrences of iDDSP in the horses post-surgery.
  • The postoperative performance of the racehorses was compared to their preoperative performance by reviewing career race records and tracking measurements like the performance index (PI) and their racing speed marks.

Results

  • The results of the study show that in the postoperative period, an increase in PI was observed in 67% of the experienced racehorses, with 66% improving or establishing their racing speed mark, as compared to the preoperative period.
  • As a group, the horses’ PI increased by 0.5 points and racing speed improved by 0.83 seconds post-surgery. This is notable considering the PI had decreased by an average of 0.9 points before the diagnosis or surgery.
  • It was also observed that not all horses demonstrated a similar pattern. Twenty-five percent did not show a decrease in PI and about 49% did not decline in racing speed prior to iDDSP diagnosis.
  • The study did not find any correlation between the net basihyoid-cricoid (BC) distance shortening and postoperative performance.
  • Postoperatively, approx. 21% of horses displayed recurring symptoms of iDDSP.

Conclusions

  • The study’s conclusion affirms the viability of LTF surgery as an effective treatment for iDDSP in harness racehorses. Despite this overall success, the individual responses varied among horses.
  • The researchers acknowledged that not all horses could be evaluated with exercising endoscopy postoperatively and that racing-related issues may affect the study’s findings.

Cite This Article

APA
Vermedal H, O'Leary JM, Fjordbakk CT, McAloon CG, Løkslett H, Stadsnes B, Fretheim-Kelly ZL, Strand E. (2021). Outcome analysis of 95 harness racehorses with confirmed dorsal displacement of the soft palate treated with laryngeal tie-forward surgery. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13479

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Vermedal, Hanna
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Clinical Studies, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
O'Leary, John Mark
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Clinical Studies, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Fjordbakk, Cathrine T
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
McAloon, Conor G
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Herd Health and Animal Husbandry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Løkslett, Hege
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Stadsnes, Birgitte
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Fretheim-Kelly, Zoe L
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Strand, Eric
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.

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This article includes 25 references
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