Asymmetric recurrent laryngeal nerve conduction velocities and dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle electromyographic characteristics in clinically normal horses.

The dorsal cricoarytenoid (DCA) muscles, are a fundamental component of the athletic horse's respiratory system: as the sole abductors of the airways, they maintain the size of the rima glottis which is essential for enabling maximal air intake during intense exercise. Dysfunction of the DCA muscle leads to arytenoid collapse during exercise, resulting in poor performance. An electrodiagnostic study including electromyography of the dorsal cricoarytenoid muscles and conduction velocity testing of the innervating recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLn) was conducted in horses with normal laryngeal function.

Idiopathic Canine Laryngeal Paralysis as One Sign of a Diffuse Polyneuropathy: An Observational Study of 90 Cases (2007-2013).

Objective: To determine survival and incidence of complications in dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) and concurrent neurologic signs.

Study Design: Observational study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 90) with ILP.

Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Denervated Laryngeal Muscle in a Large Animal Model.

Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVCP) is a life-threatening condition that follows injury to the Recurrent Laryngeal nerve (RLn) and denervation of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) enables restoration and control of a wide variety of motor functions impaired by lower motor neuron lesions. Here we evaluate the effects of FES on the sole arytenoid abductor, the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle in a large animal model of RLn injury.

Functional electrical stimulation of intrinsic laryngeal muscles under varying loads in exercising horses.

Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVCP) is a life threatening condition and appears to be a good candidate for therapy using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Developing a working FES system has been technically difficult due to the inaccessible location and small size of the sole arytenoid abductor, the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. A naturally-occurring disease in horses shares many functional and etiological features with BVCP.

Effects of epidural morphine on gastrointestinal transit in unmedicated horses.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of epidural morphine on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in horses.

Study Design: Randomly ordered crossover design.

Animals: Six healthy adult horses weighing 585± 48 kg (mean±SD).

Equine laryngoplasty sutures undergo increased loading during coughing and swallowing.

Objectives: To report (1) the force required on a single laryngoplasty suture to achieve optimal abduction of the left arytenoid cartilage, (2) peak forces experienced by the suture during induced swallowing and coughing, and during 24-hour resting activity in a stall, and (3) peak forces during induced swallowing and coughing after left recurrent laryngeal nerve blockade.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Animals: Horses (n=8).

Concentrated bone marrow aspirate improves full-thickness cartilage repair compared with microfracture in the equine model.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of treatment with bone marrow aspirate concentrate, a simple, one-step, autogenous, and arthroscopically applicable method, with the outcomes of microfracture with regard to the repair of full-thickness cartilage defects in an equine model.

Methods: Extensive (15-mm-diameter) full-thickness cartilage defects were created on the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur in twelve horses. Bone marrow was aspirated from the sternum and centrifuged to generate the bone marrow concentrate.

In vitro model for testing novel implants for equine laryngoplasty.

Objective: To develop an in vitro laryngeal model to mimic airflow and pressures experienced by horses at maximal exercise with which to test laryngoplasty techniques.

Study Design: Randomized complete block.

Sample Population: Cadaveric equine larynges (n=10).

Arthroscopic removal of palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal joint in four horses.

Objective: To describe anatomic considerations and arthroscopic technique in horses for arthroscopic removal of palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Adult horses (n=4) with osteochondral fragments of the palmar/plantar PIP joint.