Race performance after laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy in National Hunt racehorses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of laryngoplasty (LP) on race performance in longer distance (National Hunt) Thoroughbred racehorses.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses (n=71) and race-matched controls (n=126).


METHODS
Race records for National Hunt racehorses that had LP and ventriculocordectomy were analyzed and racing performance was compared with race-matched controls.


RESULTS
Sixty-three of 71 cases were matched with controls. Postoperatively, 78% of cases raced, 47% improved their individual performance and cases were as likely to start in 1 or 3 races as controls. In the 5 preoperative races, case horses earned less prize money than race-matched controls but there was no difference in prize money earned in 5 postoperative races between groups. Cases started in significantly fewer total (lifetime) races both before and after the date of surgery compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
LP seemingly restored short-term postoperative racing performance of National Hunt horses to a level comparable with that of a matched control population; however, the career "longevity" of case horses appears to be shorter than that of control horses.


CONCLUSIONS
LP appears to be a suitable treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in National Hunt racehorses.
Barakzai
Safia Z
SZ
Division of Veterinary Clinical Science, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland, UK. safia.barakzai@ed.ac.uk
Boden
Lisa A
LA
Dixon
Padraic M
PM
D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D006113:United Kingdom; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000601:surgery