Effect of poll flexion and dynamic laryngeal collapse on tracheal pressure in Norwegian Coldblooded Trotter racehorses

Strand, Eric; Fjordbakk, Cathrine T.; Holcombe, Susan J.; Risberg, Åse I.; Chalmers, Heather

doi:10.2746/042516408x330392

Cited by 49 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Thus, the head and neck position in horses affects upper airway flow mechanics [2,9]. Decreasing the pharyngeal diameter leads to increased resistance in respiratory airflow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses

Barton

Ohnesorge

2014

BMC Vet Res

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BackgroundVarious head and neck positions in sport horses are significant as they can interfere with upper airway flow mechanics during exercise. Until now, research has focused on subjectively described head and neck positions. The objective of this study was to develop an objective, reproducible method for quantifying head and neck positions accurately.ResultsDetermining the angle between the ridge of the nose and the horizontal plane (ground angle) together with the angle between the ridge of nose and the line connecting the neck and the withers (withers angle) has provided values that allow precise identification of three preselected head and neck positions for performing sport horses. The pharyngeal diameter, determined on lateral radiographs of 35 horses, differed significantly between the established flexed position and the remaining two head and neck positions (extended and neutral). There was a significant correlation between the pharyngeal diameter and the ground angle (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient −0.769, p < 0.01) as well as between the pharyngeal diameter and the withers angle (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.774, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe combination of the ground angle and the withers angle is a suitable tool for evaluating and distinguishing frequently used head and neck positions in sport horses. The ground angle and the withers angle show significant correlation with the measured pharyngeal diameter in resting horses. Hence, these angles provide an appropriate method for assessing the degree of head and neck flexion. Further research is required to examine the influence of increasing head and neck flexion and the related pharyngeal diameter on upper airway function in exercising horses.

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“…Thus, the head and neck position in horses affects upper airway flow mechanics [2,9]. Decreasing the pharyngeal diameter leads to increased resistance in respiratory airflow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses

Barton

Ohnesorge

2014

BMC Vet Res

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“…Lane et al 4 reported that there were limitations in the evaluation of respiratory sounds by ear, and perception or interpretation of noises by the jockeys or trainers is not always reliable. In this study, too, some jockeys and trainers stated that an abnormal respiratory sound was heard from the horse controlled by the jockey until the last 600 m of the race, and that the abnormal respiratory sound disappeared when the horse stopped pulling and gained more speed during the last 600 m. This is interpreted by Strand et al 21 , who argued that the poll flexion by the jockey created pressure on the trachea and it caused mild and intermittent airway abnormalities resulting in dynamic upper respiratory tract disorders like dorsal pharyngeal collapse, bilateral aryepiglottic fold collapse, and bilateral vocal fold collapse. Strand et al 21 also reported that such problems were not seen when the horse's head was maintained in normal position.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…In this study, too, some jockeys and trainers stated that an abnormal respiratory sound was heard from the horse controlled by the jockey until the last 600 m of the race, and that the abnormal respiratory sound disappeared when the horse stopped pulling and gained more speed during the last 600 m. This is interpreted by Strand et al 21 , who argued that the poll flexion by the jockey created pressure on the trachea and it caused mild and intermittent airway abnormalities resulting in dynamic upper respiratory tract disorders like dorsal pharyngeal collapse, bilateral aryepiglottic fold collapse, and bilateral vocal fold collapse. Strand et al 21 also reported that such problems were not seen when the horse's head was maintained in normal position. This study demonstrates how effective the environmental factors (particularly the jockeys) are in the creation of dynamic upper respiratory tract dysfunctions that the horses are exposed to when running during exercise or on the racecourse.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Evaluation of The Dynamic (Overground) Endoscopy Procedure in The Diagnosis of Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases Affecting Performance of Racehorses

Maden¹

2013

Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg

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SummaryIn this study, efficiencies of dynamic (overground) and resting endoscopic examinations were compared in dynamic upper respiratory tract problems which are a cause of poor performance in race horses. Thirty actively-racing horses which were brought to Turkey Jokey Club Racehorses Hospital with poor performance and abnormal respiratory tract sounds were examined while running and rest. The diagnostic effectiveness of dynamic endoscopy and resting endoscopy procedures were compared for the diagnosis of dynamic obstructions of the upper respiratory tract. Dynamic pharyngeal collapse (DPC) in 5 race horses, third or fourth degree of left laryngeal hemiplegia (LLH) in 3 race horses, second degree of axial deviation of aryepiglottic folds (ADAF) in 3 racehorses, rostral displacement of the palatopharyngeal arch (RDPA) in 1 racehorse, and dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) along with first degree of ADAF in 1 racehorse were detected in the mobile endoscopic exams. Dynamic upper respiratory tract problem was detected totally in 13 horses. As a result, it was observed that dynamic upper respiratory tract problems could be safely detected by dynamic endoscopy and it was superior than routine endoscopic examination in racehorses.

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“…The pathogenesis of this disorder is not fully understood. It is suspected that the underlying cause is not the distal axonopathy of the recurrent nerve but most likely a conformational change associated with poll flexion, when a more rostral position of the larynx occurs [25,26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Overground Endoscopy Findings in Sport and Pleasure Horses

Joó

Szenci

Bohák

et al. 2015

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

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a b s t r a c tAny factors that increase negative pressure in the upper respiratory tract (URT) can influence its mechanics. The aim of this report was to describe the results of URT diagnostic evaluation with overground endoscopy in sport and pleasure horses. The URT and plasma lactate levels were evaluated during rest and during overground endoscopic examination in 19 cases. Horses performed their normal training session. When history and clinical examination suggested a lower airway obstruction, we performed bronchoalveolar lavage. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) was diagnosed in 8 of 19 horses, which might have developed secondary to URT or lower respiratory tract inflammation or obstruction. DDSP was also detected at rest in four cases. Laryngeal hemiplegia (LHP) was diagnosed in 15 of 19 horses, 11 of which were complex cases with other types of URT obstructions. Severe pharyngeal collapse (PHC), suspected already at rest, was visible in two cases during exercise. In contrast, PHC diagnosed with nasal occlusion at rest in two cases was fully compensated under the rider. Plasma lactate levels significantly decreased during exercise. All DDSP cases were suspected to be of inflammatory or obstructive origin, which is different from findings in racehorses, where extrinsic causes are more common. Resting endoscopic examinations were sensitive in cases of obstructive origin. LHP and PHC could not be predicted on the basis of findings at rest, and increased neuromuscular activity during exercise could compensate for the problem in less severe cases. Decreased levels of lactate could be explained by the increased clearance during exercise.

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Effect of poll flexion and dynamic laryngeal collapse on tracheal pressure in Norwegian Coldblooded Trotter racehorses

Cited by 49 publications

References 18 publications

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses

Evaluation of The Dynamic (Overground) Endoscopy Procedure in The Diagnosis of Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases Affecting Performance of Racehorses

Evaluation of Overground Endoscopy Findings in Sport and Pleasure Horses

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