Resident Large Animal Surgery University College Dublin Skien, Telemark, Norway
Outcome Analysis of 95 Harness Racehorses with Confirmed Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate Treated with Laryngeal Tie-Forward Surgery. Vermedal H1, O'Leary J1, Fjordbakk C2, McAloon C1, Løkslett H2, Stadsnes B2, Fretheim-Kelly Z2, Strand E2. 1University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; 2Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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. Our objective was to evaluate racing performance of racehorses treated solely with the LTF procedure in which iDDSP had been definitely diagnosed. Ninety-five harness racehorses had a definite diagnosis of iDDSP made with exercising endoscopy. Concurrent upper respiratory tract (URT) disorders, short-term complications, and horses returning for recurrence of URT problems were recorded. Racing performance before and after LTF assessed by reviewing career race records and comparing performance index (PI) and racing speed marks from the baseline, preoperative and postoperative period. The effect of basihyoid-cricoid (BC) distance shortened on racing performance was assessed. Performance index decreased prior to diagnosis/surgery in 75% of racehorses. Postoperatively, PI increased in 67%, and 66% established or improved their racing speed mark. As a group, PI decreased by 0.9 points (P < 0.001) prior to diagnosis/surgery. Postoperatively, PI increased by 0.5 points (P = 0.003) and racing speed improved by 0.83 seconds (P < 0.001). Net BC distance shortening did not affect performance. Twenty of 95 horses (21%) had confirmed recurrence of iDDSP. Limitations include that not all horses could be evaluated with exercising endoscopy postoperatively and racehorses develop other racing-related problems which confound studies of this nature. This study provides support for continued use of LTF to treat iDDSP in harness racehorses, though iDDSP seems to affect them differently as individuals.