Premium
A study of an electrodiagnostic technique for the evaluation of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy
Author(s) -
HAWE C.,
DIXON P. M.,
MAYHEW I. G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.2746/042516401776254826
Subject(s) - medicine , palpation , laryngeal paralysis , recurrent laryngeal nerve , reflex , paralysis , electromyography , anesthesia , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , thyroid
Summary The electrodiagnostic measurement of the thoracolaryngeal reflex (TLR) (‘slap test’) latency was compared to 5 other diagnostic techniques used for evaluation of laryngeal function, namely laryngeal muscle palpation, resting and immediately postexercise endoscopic examinations, and palpable and endoscopic responses to the TLR. Compared to resting endoscopy, the electrodiagnostic measurement of TLR latency was not found to be an accurate test for the evaluation of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN), nor was laryngeal muscle palpation or the endoscopic response to the TLR. Twenty‐five (71%) of 35 Clydesdale horses examined were affected by RLN; 16 (46%) had mild, 5 (14%) moderate, 3 (9%) severe hemiparesis and 1 (3%) had total laryngeal paralysis. Within these 35 horses, physical traits such as height orneck length did not correlate with the incidence or severity of RLN. Ten control ponies showed no evidence of abnormal laryngeal function.