Septic epiglottic chondritis with abscessation in 2 young Thoroughbred racehorses.

This research article discusses the treatment and outcomes of two young Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with septic epiglottic chondritis, an infectious process in the cartilage of the epiglottis and subsequent complications.

Introduction

• The study revolves around two Thoroughbred racehorses that had been diagnosed with septic epiglottic chondritis with abscessation. This condition is a harmful infectious process that affects the cartilage of the epiglottis, a leaf-shaped flap in the throat that keeps food and drink from entering the windpipe. The inflammation and subsequent abscess formation can obstruct the airway and pose a serious risk for horses.

Treatment Procedure

• As a part of the treatment, the infected cartilage was removed from the horses through a videoendoscopic process. This involves the use of an endoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached at the end, that allows veterinarians to look inside the horse’s throat and remove the inflamed cartilage.
• Following the videoendoscopic procedure, the horses were put on systemic antibiotics to prevent the spread of the infection.

Post-Treatment Complications

• Although the infection was successfully controlled, the horses developed a permanent condition called dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). This is a disorder of the upper respiratory tract in horses characterized by abnormal positioning of the soft palate, the soft tissue at the back of a horse’s mouth, over the epiglottis. It is often considered a performance-limiting condition in horses as it can cause difficulty in breathing and lower their racing performance.
• The DDSP in these horses was caused by a shortened, deformed epiglottic cartilage, a negative outcome attributable to the infection and subsequent treatment.

Further Interventions

• To address DDSP, surgery was performed using bilateral partial sternothyroidectomy or laryngeal tie-forward methods. However, unfortunately, these surgical interventions were unsuccessful.
• The paper does not detail the long-term outcomes or management plans for the horses post these unsuccessful surgeries.