title: Performance after partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure in 27 Thoroughbred racehorses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure on postoperative racing performance and long-term complications in Thoroughbred racehorses treated for laryngeal hemiplegia, arytenoid chondropathy, or failed laryngoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven Thoroughbred racehorses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of Thoroughbred racehorses that had partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure between 1992 and 2002 were reviewed. Horses were divided into groups: horses that had not raced (Group 1) and those that had raced (Group 2) before surgery. Lifetime race records were compared between groups. A standard starts index (SSI) and performance index (PI) were used for Groups 1 and 2, respectively, to objectively evaluate each horse's postoperative performance. Telephone interviews of owners and trainers were used for subjective performance evaluation and to determine prevalence of long-term complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven (61%) Group 1 and 7 (78%) Group 2 horses raced and earned money after surgery. All Group 1 horses that raced performed at a level lower than the national average. Only 1 Group 2 horse had an improved PI score postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoroughbred racehorses have a fair prognosis for racing successfully after partial arytenoidectomy without mucosal closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique may be a practical alternative to primary mucosal closure, would decrease surgical time, and avoid some problems reported with primary mucosal closure.
authors.affiliation: Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital, Ocala, FL 34474, USA.
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Donnie E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Slone
authors.forename: Tim M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires