The impact of grade of laryngeal function immediately prior to laryngoplasty and ipsilateral ventriculocordectomy on postoperative performance: 623 Thoroughbred racehorses (1998-2013).
Authors: Broyles Ali H, Embertson Rolf M, Brett Woodie J, Machado Vinicius
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Trainers and owners frequently express concern that horses presenting with severe laryngeal dysfunction (grade IV recurrent laryngeal neuropathy) may have compromised racing prospects following laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy (LPVC), yet this assumption lacked robust evidence. Researchers retrospectively analysed race and medical records from 623 Thoroughbreds treated for RLN between 1998 and 2013, stratifying horses by preoperative laryngeal grade (III.1, III.2/III.3, and IV) and employing multivariable logistic regression, Cox proportional hazard analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to evaluate postoperative racing outcomes. Horses with grades III.2/III.3 demonstrated 1.88 times greater odds of returning to racing compared with grade IV cases, and grade IV horses experienced significantly longer intervals before their first postoperative race; however, laryngeal grade did not affect earnings per start, meaning horses that did race performed equivalently regardless of preoperative status. These findings suggest that whilst preoperative laryngeal grade may influence the *timing* and *likelihood* of racing resumption, it should not discourage surgery in grade IV horses, as those that successfully return to competition achieve comparable financial performance—an important distinction when counselling owners regarding prognosis after LPVC.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses with grade III.2/III.3 laryngeal function are more likely to return to racing after LPVC than grade IV horses, though both groups can race postoperatively
- •Grade IV horses should be counseled to expect a longer recovery time before first race, but financial returns per start are comparable across all preoperative grades
- •Preoperative racing status is a stronger predictor of postoperative performance than laryngeal grade alone
Key Findings
- •Grade III.2/III.3 horses had 1.88 times higher odds of racing after laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy (LPVC) compared to grade IV horses (P = 0.04)
- •Grade IV horses took significantly longer to return to racing compared with grade III.1 and III.2/III.3 horses on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis
- •Preoperative laryngeal function grade did not influence mean earnings per start postoperatively
- •Racing prior to surgery was a significant factor controlling likelihood of postoperative racing performance (P < 0.01)