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veterinary
farriery
2001
Case Report

Clinical experiences with axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds in 52 racehorses.

Authors: King D S, Tulleners E, Martin B B, Parente E J, Boston R

Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS

Summary

# Axial Deviation of the Aryepiglottic Folds in Racehorses: Clinical Outcomes and Management Axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (ADAF) affects approximately 6% of racehorses presenting with poor performance, with affected horses typically younger than the overall population evaluated for athletic underperformance, though no breed or sex predisposition has been identified. King and colleagues reviewed medical records, videotape documentation, and follow-up interviews from 33 horses that had either undergone transendoscopic laser excision or conservative management following high-speed treadmill evaluation, comparing objective racing performance data and owner perception of improvement at least one year post-intervention. Where ADAF was the sole upper-airway abnormality, 75% of surgically treated horses demonstrated objective performance improvement compared to 50% of rested horses, with owners and trainers consistently reporting greater satisfaction with surgical outcomes. The procedure proved safe to perform in both standing and anaesthetised horses without perioperative complications, and horses that underwent laser excision returned to training rapidly following resolution of airway obstruction. Whilst surgical management offers superior outcomes and client satisfaction, spontaneous resolution of ADAF can occur with rest alone in some horses; however, for horses with realistic racing careers ahead, transendoscopic laser correction represents the preferred approach when ADAF is the primary cause of dynamic upper-airway obstruction.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Practical Takeaways

  • ADAF diagnosis requires high-speed treadmill videoendoscopy during exercise—resting endoscopy will miss it; always evaluate young racehorses with unexplained poor performance this way
  • Transendoscopic laser excision can be safely performed standing-sedated with 75% success rate for performance recovery, significantly better than rest alone (50%)
  • Owners and trainers perceive greater satisfaction with surgical outcomes, which may influence client communication and treatment recommendations in your practice

Key Findings

  • ADAF occurred in 6% of racehorses evaluated for poor performance, with affected horses being younger than the overall population
  • 75% of horses treated with transendoscopic laser excision showed objective performance improvement compared to 50% of rested horses when ADAF was the only abnormality
  • Surgical correction was successfully performed in standing or anesthetized horses without complications
  • No apparent association existed between ADAF and other causes of dynamic upper-respiratory obstruction

Conditions Studied

axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (adaf)poor racing performancedynamic upper-airway obstruction