Epiglottic augmentation for treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in racehorses: 59 cases (1985-1994)

Eric Tulleners, John A. Stick, Midge Leitch, Troy N. Trumble, Jonathan P. Wilkerson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective - To determine whether epiglottic augmentation, in conjunction with more traditional surgical methods, would be useful in the treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in racehorses. Design - Retrospective study. Animals - 40 Thoroughbred and 19 Standardbred racehorses. Procedure - Polytetrafluoroethylene paste was injected submucosally on the lingual epiglottic surface of each horse. In addition, sternothyrohyoideus myectomy or sternothyroideus tenectomy and staphylectomy were performed in most horses. Results - Racing performance was improved after surgery in 29 of 40 (73%) Thoroughbreds and 10 of 19 (53%) Standardbreds. Twenty-nine (49%) horses won ≥ 1 race after surgery. Clinical Implications - Results suggest that epiglottic augmentation, in conjunction with other surgical methods, may be an effective method of treating horses with poor racing performance attributable to dorsal displacement of the soft palate.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1022-1028
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Volume211
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 1997

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