Dorsal displacement of the soft palate and palatal instability

Abstract

Summary Palatal dysfunction is very common in performance horses. At present, relatively little is known about its aetiology and pathogenesis, although several theories have been proposed. As a result, a multitude of treatments, both conservative and surgical, have been advocated for dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP). This tutorial article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the disorder, discussing aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management in turn.

Characteristics of palatal instability inThoroughbred racehorses and their association with the development of dorsal displacement of the soft palate

“…It has been suggested that PI always precedes the development of DDSP , whereas others have commented that DDSP may occur in the absence of PI . It is unclear whether these differences are true reflections of differing pathogeneses between horses or whether they occur because of different endoscope positions or different interpretations by clinicians.…”

Imaging Diagnosis—idiopathic Hyoid Malformation in an 8‐year‐old Welsh Section D Horse

“…Dorsal displacement of the soft palate is considered the most common dynamic abnormality of the equine upper respiratory tract, most often affecting the Thoroughbred racehorse . Since this is a dynamic collapse, the gold standard technique for diagnosis is endoscopy during exercise . The precise aetiology of dorsal displacement of the soft palate remains elusive in most cases .…”

“…Since this is a dynamic collapse, the gold standard technique for diagnosis is endoscopy during exercise . The precise aetiology of dorsal displacement of the soft palate remains elusive in most cases . Dorsal displacement of the soft palate is often treated with a laryngeal tie‐forward procedure, which aims to move both the larynx dorsally, bringing the larynx and basihyoid bone closer together .…”

La importancia de la endoscopía dinámica en las alteraciones de vías aéreas altas en caballos de deporte.

“…Los caballos con DDIPB suelen tener un historial de rendimiento pobre, intolerancia al ejercicio y ruidos respiratorios además de detenerse durante la carrera (Allen 2015). Barakzai y Hawkes (2010) describen que en un 70 a 80 % de los casos, los malos resultados se asocian con un ruido respiratorio espiratorio, descrito por los entrenadores o jinetes como "ronquidos" (Barakzai y Hawkes 2010;Couêtil y Hawkins 2015). No obstante el DDIPB afecta tanto a la inspiración y expiración, pero este último generalmente es en mayor medida (Offord et al, 2014).…”