Skip to main content
Submitted by awahl@aaep.org on

The medical and race records of 66 Thoroughbred
yearlings treated surgically for epiglottic entrapment by axial
division with a hook bistoury or diode laser were analysed.
For each treated horse, two maternal half-siblings closest
in age were selected as the untreated control cohort. Racing
performance was assessed by comparing quarterly starts and
earnings, career longevity, rates of racing and earnings.
Associations between clinical variables and not racing post-
surgery were evaluated using logistic regression.
In total, 66 treated horses were included in the study, with
there being signi ficantly more females than males in the
treated group. The proportions of horses that raced were
similar in the treated and maternal cohorts, with the treated
horses performing to a similar level to their untreated controls.
In treated horses, epiglottic entrapment with abnormal right
arytenoid movement was associated with never racing.
Thoroughbred racehorses treated in their yearling year for
epiglottic entrapment had no differences in performance
variables compared to their untreated cohort.
Effects of unipodal stance in radiography
In this experimental one group pretest, post-test study Zo €
e
Joostens and colleagues in Belgium evaluated the effects of
unipodal stance (lifting the contralateral forelimb, which is
often used as a method of restraint) on radiographic
evaluation of foot balance in horses .
Seven nonlame horses were randomly selected for this
study. Lateromedial (LM) and dorsopalmar (DP) projections
were acquired for both forefeet, squarely placed on blocks,
using two x-ray generators. Radiographs of each foot were
acquired first in a bipodal stance, immediately followed by
the same radiographic projections obtained in a unipodal
stance. The following measurements were recorded for each
stance: distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) space width on
both projections; mediolateral joint balance as the difference
between lateral and medial DIPJ space widths on DP
projections; extensor process-to-middle phalangeal condyle
distance; and deep digital flexor tendon angle on LM
projections. Statistical signi ficance was tested using a
matched pairs design and student ’s t-test with a 95%
con fidence level. Compared to a bipodal stance, lateral
DIPJ space width was signi ficantly reduced on unipodal DP
views, whereas mediolateral joint imbalance and to a lesser
extent medial DIPJ space width were signi ficantly increased.
On unipodal LM views, there was a signi ficant higher degree
of DIPJ flexion.
These findings suggest that stance should be carefully
taken into consideration when measuring radiographic
parameters in equine forefeet, especially if assessing foot
balance and conformation, as unipodal stance signi ficantly
affects the mediolateral balance of the DIPJ on DP
radiographs and signi ficantly alters the phalangeal axis on LM
radiographs.
Management of nephrosplenic entrapment
In this retrospective, observational study, Alex Gillen and
colleagues in the USA reported the outcomes of horses with
suspected nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE) of the large colon treated by intravenous phenylephrine administration
and exercise with and without trocarization (i.e. medical
management)
.
Electronic medical records were searched to identify 134
horses that had undergone medical management for
suspected NSE at a veterinary teaching hospital over a 10-
year period. Data recorded included demographic
information, physical and ultrasonographic examination
fi ndings, treatment information (including the number of times
the treatment was performed and patient response), surgical
fi ndings, complications, and patient outcome. Descriptive
statistics were reported. Seventy-two horses had suspected NSE that resolved with
medical treatment; 59 of 62 horses underwent laparotomy
when medical management failed, and three were
subjected to euthanasia without surgery. Twenty- five of the 59
horses had con firmed NSE that was surgically corrected, and
34 had lesions other than or in addition to NSE. All horses that
had surgically corrected NSE and 18 of 34 horses that had
other lesions survived to hospital discharge. The odds of
resolution of NSE with medical management were greater for
horses that underwent ≤2 (vs >2) treatments. The treatment
success rate for horses that underwent trocarization was not
greater than that for horses that did not have the procedure. Suspected NSE resolved with the described medical
management for most horses. However, results indicated the
potential for misdiagnosis was high. Timely surgical
intervention is recommended for horses that fail to respond to
medical treatment.
S. WRIGHT
EVE EDITORIAL OFFICE
References
Curtiss, A.L., Aceto, H. and Embertson, R.M. (2019) Race performance following epiglottic entrapment surgery in Thoroughbred yearlings.
Equine Vet. J. Epub ahead of print; https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.
13122
De Cozar, M., Sherlock, C., Knowles, E. and Mair, T. (2019) Serum amyloid A and plasma fibrinogen concentrations in horses
following emergency exploratory celiotomy. Equine Vet. J.Epub
ahead of print; https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13117
Gillen, A.M., Munsterman, A.S. and Reid Hanson, R. (2019) Evaluation of phenylephrine and exercise with or without trocarization for
treatment of suspected nephrosplenic entrapment in horses. J.
Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 254, 1448-1453.
Joostens, Z., Evrard, L. and Busoni, V. (2019) Unipodal stance in fluences radiographic evaluation of foot balance in horses. Vet.
Radiol. Ultrasound. 60, 273-279.
Manship, A.J., Blikslager, A.T. and Elfenbein, J.R. (2019) Disease features of equine coronavirus and enteric salmonellosis are similar
in horses. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 33, 912-917.
Odelros, E., Kendall, A., Hedberg-Alm, Y. and Pringle, J. (2019) Idiopathic peritonitis in horses: a retrospective study of 130 cases in
Sweden (2002-2017). Acta Vet. Scand.61, 18.
Sheldon, S.A., Aleman, M., Costa, L.R.R., Santoyo, A.C., Weich, K.M., Howey, Q. and Madigan, J.E. (2019) Luteinizing hormone
concentrations in healthy horses and horses with trigeminal-
mediated headshaking over an 8-hour period. J. Vet. Intern. Med.
33 , 885-888.
©2019 EVJ Ltd
451 EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION / AE / SEPTEMBER 2019

Link
https://pubs.aaep.org/0A4370h/EVESeptember2019/index.html?page=15