title: Surgical cleft soft palate repair in a foal.
abstract: An Anglo-Arab foal with bilateral postprandial nasal discharge was diagnosed as having a full-length defect of the soft palate. Surgical repair was attempted using a combination of two surgical approaches. Initially a mandibular symphysiotomy approach was used. The posterior portion of the defect did not heal adequately, so a ventral laryngotomy, bisecting the body of the thyroid cartilage and extending to a pharyngotomy approach, was performed 5 months later. The foal has since matured fully despite a slight unilateral nasal discharge. This case report demonstrates that these two surgical approaches used simultaneously provide surgical access that is superior to either approach used individually.
authors.affiliation: Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, Shepparton, Victoria.
authors.forename: L E McN
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vasey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods; D013567:Symphysiotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary