Race-day performance of horses with epiglottic entrapment, and following surgical correction using intra-oral curved bistoury hook in anaesthetised horses.
Authors: Shaw D J, Rosanowski S M
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Epiglottic Entrapment Surgery and Race Performance Epiglottic entrapment, characterised by abnormal respiratory noise and exercise intolerance, presents a diagnostic dilemma in racing horses because the condition has been linked to both poor and superior performance, leaving practitioners uncertain whether surgical intervention is justified or might compromise future athletic ability. Shaw and Rosanowski conducted a retrospective case-control study at the Singapore Turf Club (2008–2011), comparing race-day performance in 20 horses with epiglottic entrapment before and after intra-oral surgical correction using a curved bistoury hook under anaesthesia, measured against matched controls without the condition. The results were striking: whilst only one horse finished in the top three when racing with the condition present, fourteen of the same horses achieved top-three finishes post-operatively (P < 0.001), and their subsequent performance was statistically equivalent to non-affected controls in both wins (P = 0.20) and places (P = 0.62). These findings provide strong evidence that epiglottic entrapment does impair race performance and that the intra-oral surgical technique effectively resolves the condition without iatrogenic penalty. Clinicians can now offer owners and trainers data-driven reassurance when advising on surgical correction, eliminating a major source of uncertainty in managing this relatively common presentation in the racing population.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Surgery for epiglottic entrapment significantly improves race-day performance; horses with this condition should be offered surgical correction to restore competitive ability
- •Corrected horses return to performance levels equivalent to unaffected horses, alleviating concerns that surgery may harm future racing capability
- •The intra-oral technique under anaesthesia is a practical and effective surgical option that practitioners can confidently recommend to racing horse owners
Key Findings
- •Horses racing with epiglottic entrapment showed significantly impaired performance compared to racing without the condition (P<0.001)
- •Fourteen of 20 horses (70%) finished in the top three post-surgery versus only one horse (5%) finishing in the top three while affected
- •Post-surgery performance of treated horses showed no significant difference from matched controls in wins (P=0.20) and places (P=0.62)
- •Intra-oral curved bistoury hook technique under anaesthesia is an effective surgical approach for resolving epiglottic entrapment