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POOR PERFORMANCE
Veterinary Surgeon
Neaera Fletcher
XLVets Equine Practice
Paragon Veterinary
Group
Neaera Fletcher BSc(Hons) BVMS MRCVS
, Paragon Veterinary Group
3. Apply 2-3 layers of rolled cotton
wool to the limb, for padding and
further protection.
CASE STUDY...
Poor performance:
Dorsal displacement
of the soft palate
Jet
, a five-year-old thoroughbred
gelding racehorse had been showing
good form up until July 2012. During
the next three months, over three
sequential races, the gelding came
last, or finished well below the
expected performance.
Jet had no major abnormalities of the
larynx when examined using a flexible
camera (endoscope) at rest. As part of the
investigation of poor performance, a dynamic
endoscope was used to remotely examine
the gelding's larynx during training exercise
on the gallops. The images showed that as
the work intensified and the horse began to
tire, the soft palate became unstable and
finally displaced over the epiglottis of the
larynx (figure 3). Dorsal displacement of
the soft palate is a common condition of
racehorses whereby the soft palate moves
upwards over the epiglottis creating a
functional obstruction of the airway.
Upper respiratory tract infection and
inflammation can cause dorsal displacement
of the soft palate. Other causes are thought
to involve nerve damage or dysfunction of
the nerves which supply the pharynx. The
condition can be treated conservatively or
surgically. Conservative treatment is often
the first choice for younger horses and
involves rest and anti-inflammatories. A tongue
tie which stops the tongue pulling backwards
can also help to prevent dorsal displacement
of the soft palate, and some trainers also find
it helpful to use a dropped noseband.
Surgical procedures may be chosen when the
horse is fully trained and racing, where faster
return to training is preferable to a prolonged
period of rest. Laryngeal tie-forward is a
surgical procedure performed under general
anaesthesia which involves the placement
of strong sutures to tie the larynx in a more
forward position. This forward position assists
in preventing the soft palate from displacing.
The owners of Jet opted for a tie forward
surgical procedure and we referred the
gelding to XLVets Clyde Veterinary Hospital
where the surgery was performed. The
gelding was placed under general
anaesthesia and an incision was made
beneath the larynx. The larynx was then
exposed to allow the placement of the
sutures. One suture was placed each side
of the larynx between the cartilage of the
larynx and one of the bones which gives
the tongue and larynx stability. Once in
position and under tension, the incision site
was closed. Before and after surgery, Jet
received antibiotics to prevent infection.
Jet was discharged the following day with
a one week course of antibiotics and
anti-inflammatories for pain relief. An x-ray
was taken to make sure the larynx was in
the right position. Feeding was given at
shoulder height to prevent early stress on the
incision site. The sutures were removed at
14 days, at which time Jet resumed training
(starting with walking and slowly building up).
Jet recovered from the surgery without any
problems and is currently in training and
expected to race in the coming months.
Figure 1.
Jet with the dynamic scope fitted
Figure 3.
A schematic view of the larynx in its correct position (A) compared with a view of the larynx
when the soft palate is displaced above the epiglottis (B) restricting airflow into the windpipe
Figure 2.
Jet on the gallops where the images
where taken of the soft palate displacing
A
B
Dorsal displacement
of soft palate
SPRING 2013 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
8