Clinical outcome and Follow-up
As the horse was getting very restless in the box and when walked by
hand, it started to be turned out in a small grass paddock (15x15m) at
two months post-surgery. The horse did not show any signs of lameness or
ataxia and the cervical range of motion did not appear to be decreased.
The horse was turned out several hours per day for one more month and
then started additionally being worked on long-reins in walk and trot
for another two months. The owner reported mild stiffness on the right
lead that improved gradually with exercise. Check-up radiographs taken
five months after surgery showed complete healing of the fracture(Figure 5) . The horse resumed canter work after the five-month
check-up. As the owners gradually increased the canter work, they
noticed a respiratory noise at exercise. The horse was diagnosed with a
right-sided laryngeal hemiplegia grade 3. The horse was turned out every
day in a grass field with another horse and continued light exercise
until upper airway surgery was performed seven months following axis
fracture repair. A bilateral transendoscopic laser ventriculocordectomy
and a right-sided laryngeal reinnervation using the spinal accessory
nerve were performed. Following the mandatory six-week rehabilitation
time after upper airway surgery, training was resumed. At ten months
post-surgery, the horse is back to normal flatwork and gradually
increasing the level of the jumping training.