Performance after partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure in 27 Thoroughbred racehorses.
Authors: Barnes Amy J, Slone Donnie E, Lynch Tim M
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Partial Arytenoidectomy Without Mucosal Closure in Racehorses When laryngeal hemiplegia, arytenoid chondropathy, or previous laryngoplasty failure compromises a Thoroughbred's airway, partial arytenoidectomy offers a potential solution—though the optimal surgical technique remains debated. This retrospective analysis of 27 racehorses treated between 1992 and 2002 compared outcomes in horses with and without prior racing experience, using standardised performance indices and owner feedback to assess both objective results and long-term complications. Encouragingly, 61–78% of horses returned to racing and earned prize money post-operatively; however, Group 1 horses (previously unraced) that did race performed consistently below the national average, and only one previously-raced horse (Group 2) showed improved performance metrics after surgery. The authors' key observation is that performing arytenoidectomy without primary mucosal closure appears to offer a practical, time-efficient alternative that may sidestep some of the known complications associated with closure techniques, potentially making it worthwhile for cases where returning to competitive racing is a realistic but modest goal rather than a guaranteed outcome.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •About 6-8 in 10 racehorses will return to racing after partial arytenoidectomy without closure, but expect lower performance levels overall
- •Previously raced horses have slightly better return-to-racing rates than those racing for the first time postoperatively
- •This technique saves surgical time and may avoid mucosal closure complications, making it a practical middle-ground option when addressing laryngeal hemiplegia or arytenoid chondropathy
Key Findings
- •61% of horses with no prior racing history (Group 1) and 78% of previously raced horses (Group 2) returned to racing and earned money postoperatively
- •All Group 1 horses that raced postoperatively performed below the national average level
- •Only 1 of 9 Group 2 horses showed improved performance index scores after surgery
- •Partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure represents a fair prognosis alternative that reduces surgical time compared to primary closure techniques