Racing performance after combined prosthetic laryngoplasty and ipsilateral ventriculocordectomy or partial arytenoidectomy: 135 Thoroughbred racehorses competing at less than 2400 m (1997-2007).

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The success of combined prosthetic laryngoplasty with ipsilateral ventriculocordectomy (LPVC) has not been compared to that of partial arytenoidectomy (PA) in a clinical population. HYPOTHESES: In Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses: (1) earnings after LPVC are unaffected by the severity of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) (laryngeal grade III vs. grade IV); (2) LPVC and PA yield similar results in the treatment of grade III RLN; (3) performance outcome following PA is independent of diagnosis (RLN vs. unilateral arytenoid chondritis [UAC]); and (4) neither LPVC nor PA returns horses to the level of performance of controls. METHODS: Medical and racing records of 135 TB racehorses undergoing LPVC or PA for the treatment of grade III or IV RLN or UAC were reviewed. Racing records of age and sex matched controls were also reviewed. RESULTS: After LPVC, horses with grade III RLN performed better compared to those with grade IV RLN. Furthermore, horses treated for grade III RLN by LPVC showed post operative earnings comparable to controls. Rate of return to racing were similar for PA and LPVC, although LPVC resulted in higher post operative earnings. Performance after PA was similar regardless of diagnosis (UAC or RLN). Finally, neither LPVC when performed for grade IV RLN, nor PA performed for either diagnosis restored post operative earnings to control levels. CONCLUSIONS: Thoroughbred racehorses treated by LPVC for grade III RLN show significantly better post operative earnings compared to horses treated for grade IV disease. In grade III RLN, LPVC returns earning potential to control levels. PA and LPVC lead to similar success in terms of rate of return to racing, but PA leads to inferior earnings after surgery. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Laryngoplasty should be recommended for all TB racehorses with grade III RLN to maximise return to racing at a high level. This contradicts the common approach of waiting for complete paralysis.

An in vitro biomechanical comparison of interlocking nail constructs and double plating for fixation of diaphyseal femur fractures in immature horses.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical properties of intact immature horse femurs and 3 stabilization methods in ostectomized femurs. ANIMAL OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Eighteen pairs of femurs from immature horses aged 1 to 15 months, and weighing 68 to 236 kg. METHODS: Thirty-four immature horse femurs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 test groups: 1) interlocking intramedullary nail (IIN) (n = 6); 2) IIN with a cranial dynamic compression plate (I/DCP) (n = 6); 3) 2 dynamic compression plates (2DCP) (n = 8); 4) intact femurs tested to failure in lateromedial (LM) bending (n = 6); and 5) intact femurs tested to failure in caudocranial (CaCr) bending (n = 8). Mid-diaphyseal ostectomies (1 cm) were performed in all fixation constructs. Biomechanical testing consisted of 4 nondestructive tests: CaCr bending, LM bending, compression, and torsion, followed by bending to failure. All groups were tested to failure in LM bending with the exception of 1 group of intact femurs tested to failure in CaCr bending. Stiffness and failure properties were compared among groups. RESULTS: The 2DCP-femur construct had greater structural stiffness in nondestructive bending than the IIN-femur construct in either LM or CaCr bending, and the I/DCP-femur construct in LM bending. Only the I/DCP and 2DCP fixations were similar to intact bone in nondestructive-bending tests. In addition, the 2DCP-femur construct had greater structural and gap torsional stiffness than the I/DCP-femur construct, and greater gap torsional stiffness than the IIN-femur construct. However, all of the fixation methods tested, including the 2DCP-femur construct, had lower structural stiffness in torsional loading compared with intact bone. No significant differences in structural stiffness were found between intact bones and femur constructs tested nondestructively in compression. In resistance to LM bending to failure, the 2DCP-femur construct was superior to the IIN-femur construct, yet similar to the I/DCP-femur construct. Also, evaluation of yield and failure loads revealed no significant differences between intact bone and any of the femur constructs tested to failure in LM bending. CONCLUSIONS: In general, the 2DCP-femur construct provided superior strength and stiffness compared with the IIN and I/DCP-femur constructs under bending and torsion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Double plating of diaphyseal comminuted femoral fractures in immature horses may be the best method of repair, because in general, it provides the greatest strength and stiffness in bending and torsion.

Arthroscopic surgery in a reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata).

An 8-mo-old captive male reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) developed an acute lameness (grade IV/V) of the right forelimb, with swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joint. A traumatic injury was suspected based on clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic evaluation. Several abnormalities were identified arthroscopically, including synovitis, cartilage damage, and an osteochondral fragment. Medial collateral ligament damage was also suspected based on radiographic evaluation. Arthroscopy provided a means of diagnosis and treatment of the abnormalities identified. The lameness in this giraffe resolved within 6 wk following arthroscopic surgery.