Observations on Laryngeal Hemiplegia in the Horse and Treatment by Abductor Muscle Prosthesis

Abstract

Summary Laryngeal hemiplegia in the horse is discussed regarding incidence and pathologic findings. A hypothesis for its etiology is presented. The clinical and differential diagnosis of the condition is outlined and a new surgical technique, consisting of replacement of the paralyzed crico‐arytenoideus dorsalis muscle by an elastic prosthesis is described. Résumé L'hémiplégie laryngée du cheval est étudiée en fonction des données pathologiques. Une hypothèse étiologique est avancée. Le diagnostic clinique et le diagnostic différentiel sont indiqués. Une nouvelle technique chirurgicale faisant intervenir le remplacement du muscle crico arytenoidien dorsal paralysé par une prothèse elastique est décrite. Zusammenfassung Die Hemiplegia laryngis des Pferdes wird besprochen hinsichtlich der Häufigkeit ihres Auftretens und der pathologischen Befunde. Eine Hypothese für die Aetiologie wird vorgebracht. Die klinische Diagnose und die Differentialdiagnose des Zustandes werden angegeben. Eine neue chirurgische Technik bestehend aus dem Ersatz des gelähmten Musculus cricoarytaenoideus dorsalis durch eine elastische Prothese wird beschrieben. Sumario La Hemiplégia laríngea en el caballo es discutida en realcíon a su incidencia y resultados patológicos. Se presenta una hipótesis de su etiológia. El diagnóstico clínifo y diferencial de esta condicíon es subrayada y una nueva técnica quirurgica consistente en reemplazar el musculo dorsal del cricoaritenodeo utilizando una protesis elastica.

Modified first or second cervical nerve transplantation technique for the treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in horses

“…The current standard treatment for RLN is prosthetic laryngoplasty, as described by Marks et al [4], with the goal of permanently abducting the left arytenoid cartilage. This nonphysiological procedure has been modified in recent decades but still has undeniable adverse effects on upper airway health that can be subclinical or clinically apparent [5].…”

Neuroanatomy of the equine dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle: Surgical implications

“…The first prosthetic laryngoplasty was described by Marks et al (1970). This technique is the current standard for treating equine RLN (Kidd and Slone 2002;Dixon et al 2003a;Brown et al 2004) and has a 48-66% success rate in racehorses (Strand et al 2000;Davenport et al 2001;Dixon et al 2001;Kidd and Slone 2002), although a much higher success rate (73-91%) is reported in horses performing at submaximal exercise (Dixon et al 2003b).…”

Intra‐articular stabilisation of the equine cricoarytenoid joint

“…A variety of techniques and materials are used to perform prosthetic laryngoplasty in horses. Although polyester is the most widely used suture material, a variety of others have been used, including steel, mersilene, lycra and nylon (Marks et al 1970;Russell and Slone 1994;Tetens et al 1996;Hawkins et al 1997;Davenport et al 2001;Dixon et al 2001;Kidd and Slone 2002;Scherzer and Hainisch 2005). These sutures have differing amounts of elongation at physiological loads, which may affect crosssectional area of the rima glottidis (Cheetham et al 2006).…”