Page 710 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
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Figure 15.23 Endoscopic view of a paralysed larynx; this is a severe case of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, note the marked
asymmetry of the laryngeal opening
Treatment
Once the condition has developed to grade 4 it cannot be reversed. The nerve and muscle
activity will not return.
There are several treatment options.
No treatment Many horses perform satisfactorily with a degree of laryngeal dysfunction
despite making a noise.
Management changes Many horses improve with increased fitness and being kept in a
dust-free environment.
Hobday operation (ventriculectomy) and vocal cord resection On each side of the
vocal folds which form the lower margin of the laryngeal opening, there is a small opening
called the lateral ventricle. This leads into a small blind sac of mucous membrane. Removal
of both ventricles or the left ventricle and the edge of the left vocal fold may help reduce the
noise. It is unlikely to enlarge the airway sufficiently to improve the horse’s performance.
Abductor muscle prosthesis (prosthetic laryngoplasty or ‘tie-back’ operation) In
