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

Abstract

Use of RLN in combination with laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy for treatment of grade III LLH may not improve postoperative racing performance.

A review of equine laryngoplasty complications

“…It has also been reported that surgical transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in horses undergoing LP did not improve post operative racing performance in horses with RLN (Davenport et al . ) and blockade of the recurrent laryngeal nerve did not change the force exerted on LP prostheses during swallowing or coughing (Witte et al . ).…”

“…Davenport et al . () reported that 6% of racehorses had their post LP performance limited by a chronic cough while Strand et al . () reported that the racing careers of 10% of cases was limited due to chronic aspiration and coughing.…”

“…; Davenport et al . ), but considering the high reported prevalence (up to 80%) of this condition in racehorses (Sweeney et al . ), the true significance of this finding is hard to ascertain.…”

Laryngoplasty with metallic implants - biomechanical tension test of the arytenoid and cricoid of the horse using metallic prostheses

“…So wurde vorgeschlagen, die Bewegungen der Prothese beziehungsweise der Implantatlager durch eine zusätzliche Neurektomie des Nervus laryngeus recurrens sinister zu reduzieren (Davenport et al 2001), ohne dass dadurch jedoch postoperativ bessere Erfolge zu erzielen waren. Angeführt wurde auch eine zusätzliche Arthrodese des Cricoarytaenoidgelenks, die eine vermehrte Stabilität des Arytaenoidknorpels bewirkt und dadurch die postoperativen Ergebnisse verbessert (Marks et al 1970b).…”

Ex Vivo Mechanical Evaluation of a Sternal ZipFix®Implant for Prosthetic Laryngoplasty in Horses

“…Prosthetic laryngoplasty is an accepted surgical procedure for correction of this condition and is frequently performed with little variation of the original technique first described by Marks et al Additional reported techniques for addressing a paralyzed arytenoid cartilage include neuromuscular pedicle graft, nerve transplant, nerve anastomosis, and arytenoidectomy . Reported success rates for a return to performance after prosthetic laryngoplasty in racing breeds ranges from 45 to 78% …”