Zamboulis D.E. DVM, Associate professor, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, A.U.Th., Thessaloniki | Tseliou A. DVM, Postgraduate Student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, A.U.Th., Thessaloniki | Toutoudaki Z. DVM, Postgraduate Student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, A.U.Th., Thessaloniki | Diakakis N. DVM, Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, A.U.Th., Thessaloniki
Introduction
Traditionally, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy has been addressed with laryngoplasty along with unilateral ventriculectomy. Laryngoplasty involves the extra-laryngeal placement of a tensioned suture between the muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage.
Clinical case
This case report describes a modified laryngoplasty approach in a 3-year-old stallion that was presented with an underdeveloped muscular process of the arytenoid cartilage during surgery. Briefly, the modifications included a) the placement of the suture between the cricoid cartilage and into the body of the arytenoid cartilage at the base of the underdeveloped muscular process in a medial to lateral direction avoiding penetration of the laryngeal mucosa, b) the novel use of a CCL Lateral Suture System® 100 lb instead of the heavy nonabsorbable braided polyester suture material commonly used to tie back the arytenoid cartilage, and c) the bilateral ventriculectomy.
Results
The surgery was successful with satisfactory abduction of the arytenoid cartilage achieved with minimal complications.
Conclusions
This modified approach can provide promising results in horses with an underdeveloped arytenoid cartilage muscular process.
