RT Journal Article
SR 00
ID 10.2746/042516408X320898
A1 Reardon, R.J.M.
A1 Fraser, B.S.L.
A1 Heller, J.
A1 Lischer, C.
A1 Parkin, T.
A1 Bladon, B.M.
T1 The use of race winnings, ratings and a performance index to assess the effect of thermocautery of the soft palate for treatment of horses with suspected intermittent dorsal displacement. A case-control study in 110 racing Thoroughbreds
JF Equine Veterinary Journal
YR 2010
FD 2010
VO 40
IS 5
SP 508
OP 513
AB Summary:  Reasons for performing the study: There have been no reports of the efficacy of thermocautery of the soft palate (TSP) assessed objectively as a treatment of intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP).  Objective: To compare: racing performance of horses that underwent thermocautery of the soft palate with matched controls; and ‘Racing Post ratings’ (RPR) with prize money won (RE) and a performance index (PI) for each of the horses in the study.  Hypothesis: Thermocautery of the soft palate has no beneficial effect on racing performance and the 3 measures of performance are significantly related.  Methods: The inclusion criteria were fulfilled by 110 horses and each was matched with 2 controls. Changes in performance were compared statistically. RPR, RE and PI were analysed using a regression model.  Results: The percentage of horses that improved in performance following the procedure was 28–51% for the 3 measures of performance, compared to 21–53% for the matched controls. There was no significant effect of the procedure on the changes in RPR or RE. There was a significant effect of the procedure on the change in PI (P = 0.015) with more treated horses achieving an improved PI and fewer acquiring a worse PI than matched control horses. The measures of performance showed significant correlation.  Conclusions: Thermocautery of the soft palate alone may not be the most efficacious treatment of DDSP.
SN 0425-1644
LK https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/96352/
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2746/042516408X320898