Performance comparison of 159 Thoroughbred racehorses and matched cohorts before and after desmotomy of the interspinous ligament.
Authors: Derham A M, O'Leary J M, Connolly S E, Schumacher J, Kelly G
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Interspinous Ligament Desmotomy for Impinging Dorsal Spinous Processes in Racehorses Poor performance in Thoroughbred racehorses is often attributed to impinging dorsal spinous processes (DSPs), yet evidence supporting surgical intervention has been largely anecdotal. Researchers retrospectively analysed racing records from 159 Thoroughbreds that underwent desmotomy of the interspinous ligament (DISL) between 2015 and 2016, comparing their pre- and post-operative performance against 159 matched controls of identical age, sex, training type and trainer over a minimum 12-month follow-up period. Horses undergoing DISL showed significantly greater improvements in racing performance than controls, supporting the hypothesis that pain from impinging DSPs was limiting their competitive ability. Importantly, eight horses (5%) developed unilateral neurogenic atrophy of epaxial musculature post-operatively, indicating this complication should be monitored and factored into pre-operative discussions with trainers and owners. For practitioners managing performance-limited horses with radiographically confirmed impinging DSPs, this represents the first objective, long-term evidence that DISL can restore competitive function, though informed consent regarding potential muscular complications remains essential.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Desmotomy of the interspinous ligament is an effective surgical treatment for racehorses with poor performance caused by impinging dorsal spinous processes, with objective evidence from racing records
- •Neurogenic atrophy of epaxial muscles is a recognized complication occurring in approximately 5% of cases, requiring post-operative monitoring
- •This procedure should be considered for poorly performing racehorses with confirmed impinging dorsal spinous processes before other diagnostic avenues are exhausted
Key Findings
- •159 of 236 horses (67.4%) undergoing desmotomy of interspinous ligament met inclusion criteria from 6,545 horses presenting with poor performance or lameness
- •Horses undergoing desmotomy showed significantly better improvement in racing performance compared to matched age-, sex-, and trainer-controlled cohorts
- •Eight horses (5%) developed unilateral neurogenic atrophy of epaxial musculature as a post-operative complication
- •Long-term follow-up of at least 12 months demonstrated sustained performance improvement in treated horses