The effect of recurrent laryngeal neurectomy in conjunction with laryngoplasty and unilateral ventriculocordectomy in thoroughbred racehorses.

This research investigates how a specific surgical approach, involving recurrent laryngeal neurectomy, laryngoplasty, and ventriculocordectomy, impacts the post-surgery performance of Thoroughbred racehorses affected by laryngeal hemiparesis. The results suggest that combining these surgical methods does not significantly improve the racing performance of the horses.

Study Design and Methods

• This study is a retrospective examination, meaning the researchers used data from past cases to make observations and conclusions.
• They inspected the medical records of Thoroughbred racehorses that were treated surgically by laryngoplasty and laser ventriculocordectomy, either with or without recurrent laryngeal neurectomy, between June 1993 and December 1996.
• A total of fifty-five Thoroughbred racehorses with grade III left laryngeal hemiparesis – a condition resulting in the paralysis or weakness of the left side of the larynx – were included in the study.

Evaluation of Post-Surgery Performance

• The outcome was assessed both subjectively and objectively. The subjective assessment was based on telephone interviews with the horses’ owners and trainers, while the objective assessment focused on the racing performance of the horses in three races before and after the surgeries.
• The performance was evaluated using a Performance Index (PI), which is a numerical rating that reflects the horse’s racing success.

Results of the Study

• Out of the 55 horses, 39 underwent surgeries with recurrent laryngeal neurectomy while the remaining 16 did not. Based on the feedback from the owners and trainers, 19 out of the 38 horses that underwent RLN were reported to have an improvemen in their performance while for those without RLN, performance improvement was noted in 5 horses.
• However, the objective assessment showed that the PI scores improved in 18 horses that underwent the RLN surgery, and in 6 horses that did not undergo RLN surgery, indicating that there was no significant difference in performance post-surgery between the two groups.

Study Conclusions

• Based on this retrospective study, it’s concluded that conducting a recurrent laryngeal neurectomy in combination with laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy for Thoroughbred racehorses suffering from grade III left laryngeal hemiparesis may not improve postoperative racing performance.
• This insight suggests that the additional surgery (RLN) might not be necessary or beneficial for treating the condition given that it doesn’t contribute to a significant performance improvement.