Intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (iDDSP) can hamper a horse's athletic performance: the soft palate flips out of position from around the larynx and obstructs the airway, limiting the amount of oxygen a horse can take in.
This condition is seen more often in horses that are asked for strenuous activities like racing than in pleasure mounts.
Various therapies and techniques have been used to address the problem, including tongue ties, addressing other respiratory issues, and a laryngeal tie forward surgery (LTF).
The tie forward surgery is successful nearly 80 percent of the time. Prosthetic sutures are placed between the basihyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, tying the larynx forward so the soft palate can't dislocate and block the airway.
The surgery is typically performed with the horse under general anesthesia, which carries its own risks. Some studies suggest that recovery from anesthesia may contribute to suture failure.
Dr. Natasha Lean and a team of veterinarians from the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science completed tie forward surgeries on 10 horses that were sedated while standing. Five of the horses were “normal” and five of the horses had confirmed iDDSP. The surgery site was desensitized with local anesthetic and the surgery was performed with endoscopic guidance.
The team encountered no major complications in any of the horses; the surgical response was assessed using endoscopy and radiography, and deemed a success. The team concluded that a standing tie forward surgery is feasible and minimizes the risk of putting a horse under general anesthesia; it also reduces cost.
Read more at Equine Science Update. https://equinescienceupdate.blogspot.com/2023/02/possible-new-approach-to-ddsp-treatment.html
The post Stand Up: Tie Forward Surgery Now Feasible While Standing appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
