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Veterinary surgery : VS2025; 54(6); 1053-1061; doi: 10.1111/vsu.14245

Overground endoscopic examination following laryngeal tie-forward in horses with dorsal displacement of the soft palate.

Abstract: To compare overground endoscopy (OGE) findings and racing performance in horses before and after laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) surgery for the treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP). Methods: Retrospective case series with follow up. Methods: A total of 56 horses met the inclusion criteria. Methods: Clinical record review of all horses definitively diagnosed with iDDSP, treated with LTF surgery, and evaluated with a single OGE examination postoperatively. In addition to LTF, some horses underwent bilateral aryepiglottic fold resection (AEFR) and/or soft palate thermocautery (SPTC). Overground endoscopy findings and racing performance metrics were compared preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: There was a 75% reduction (p < .001, 95% CI: 64% to 86%) in the presence of iDDSP and a 23% reduction (p = .002, 95% CI: 10% to 36%) in the presence of palatal instability (PI) on OGE after LTF. Soft palate thermocautery was performed concurrently with LTF in 16 horses but they showed no additional reduction in prevalence of iDDSP after surgery. There was a 22% increase (p = .01, 95% CI: 5% to 38%) in the number of horses that raced and an 18% increase (p = .05, 95% CI: 1% to 35%) in those that were placed postsurgery. Horses reported to have suspected upper airway impairment postoperatively had higher odds of iDDSP on repeat OGE (OR: 11, 95% CI: 2-55). Conclusions: Seventy five percent of horses undergoing LTF had no evidence of iDDSP on postoperative OGE, and SPTC did not reduce the incidence further. Horses with reported suspected upper airway impairment postoperatively were more likely to have continued iDDSP. Conclusions: Laryngeal tie-forward surgery is a successful treatment option for iDDSP in horses. Soft palate thermocautery does not appear to offer additional benefits. Reports of suspected ongoing upper airway impairment would warrant repeat OGE.
© 2025 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-18 PubMed ID: 40099351DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14245Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research involved a comparison of overground endoscopy (OGE) results and racing performance of horses before and after undergoing laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) surgery for the treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP). The study revealed that LTF surgery successfully treated iDDSP in 75% of the horses studied, with no additional benefit observed from soft palate thermocautery.

Study Overview

  • This study employed a retrospective case series model, examining the records of 56 horses which met the specified criteria.
  • All horses had been definitively diagnosed with iDDSP, undergone LTF surgery, and been evaluated using overground endoscopy OGE examination post-surgery.
  • In addition to LTF, some horses also underwent bilateral aryepiglottic fold resection (AEFR) and/or soft palate thermocautery (SPTC).
  • The researchers compared the OGE findings and racing performance of the horses both before and after surgery.

Results

  • The study found a significant 75% reduction in the presence of iDDSP after LTF surgery and a 23% reduction in the presence of palatal instability (PI).
  • Concurrently with LTF, 16 horses underwent soft palate thermocautery (SPTC), but this did not appear to further reduce the prevalence of iDDSP post-surgery.
  • Post-operation, there was a notable increase in racing performance. The number of horses that raced increased by 22%, with an 18% increase in those that were placed.
  • However, horses reported to have suspected upper airway impairment with higher odds of iDDSP on repeat OGE post-surgery were noted.

Conclusions

  • Of the horses that underwent LTF, 75% showed no evidence of iDDSP on post-operative OGE.
  • SPTC, however, did not reduce the incidence of iDDSP further.
  • Horses reported to have suspected upper airway impairment following surgery were more likely to continue to have iDDSP. This suggests that reports of suspected ongoing upper airway impairment would warrant a repeat OGE exam after surgery.
  • The effectiveness of laryngeal tie-forward (LTF) surgery as a treatment option for iDDSP in horses was affirmed. However, there was no observed additional advantage from also undertaking Soft Palate Thermocautery (SPTC).

Cite This Article

APA
Barnett TP, Colgate VA, Robinson N, Smith LCR, Palmer L, Barakzai SZ. (2025). Overground endoscopic examination following laryngeal tie-forward in horses with dorsal displacement of the soft palate. Vet Surg, 54(6), 1053-1061. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14245

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 6
Pages: 1053-1061

Researcher Affiliations

Barnett, Timothy P
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK.
Colgate, Victoria A
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK.
Robinson, Natalie
  • VetPartners Ltd, York, UK.
Smith, Lewis C R
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK.
Palmer, Lorraine
  • Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK.
Barakzai, Safia Z
  • Equine Surgical Referrals Ltd, Brighton, UK.

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