Clinical findings and management of six horses with subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon in the hind limb fetlock.
Abstract: To describe the history, clinical signs, and management of six horses in which subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon (LDET) in the hind limb fetlock had been diagnosed. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Six privately owned horses. Methods: The medical records of horses presented at the hospital with similar sypmtoms were evaluated and collected. Finally 6 horses met the inclusion criteria and the relevant data were compiled and analysed. In three of the six cases a surgical treatment was carried out. Results: All horses had similar clinical signs, mainly distention beneath the long digital extensor tendon (LDET) at the level of the hind limb fetlock without associated lameness; the major issues were the presence of cosmetic defects and concern about their functional use in the future. Three of the six horses were treated surgically with bursoscopic debridement. The cosmetic results were excellent in two of these three horses. One horse that underwent an operation experienced a recurrence. None of the horses with bursitis treated medically experienced resolution of the problem. Conclusions: Bursoscopy is a technique to consider for the management of bursitis of the LDET at the level of the fetlock combined with prolonged bandage application when medical treatment has failed to manage the condition. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, subtendinous bursitis of the LDET in the hind limb is not a commonly diagnosed condition. This small case series provides some insight into methods for the clinical management of this issue.
© 2019 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2019-08-24 PubMed ID: 31444890DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13315Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article discusses the findings and treatment methods observed in six horses diagnosed with subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon in the hindlimbs. This condition is rare and not well-understood. The article offers insight into potential clinical management techniques, particularly highlighting the possibility of using bursoscopy for treatment when medical management fails.
Study Methodology
- The study is a retrospective case series, examining past cases of subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon in horses.
- The researchers reviewed medical records of horses presented at the hospital with similar symptoms.
- The inclusion criteria were strictly applied to identify the subject cases. The process resulted in the selection of six privately owned horses.
- The researchers evaluated and analyzed relevant data from these six cases.
- The treatment protocol varied among the cases, with surgical treatment being carried out in three of the six cases.
Results and Findings
- All six horses exhibited similar clinical signs, mainly distention beneath the long digital extensor tendon in their hind limbs. However, these symptoms were not associated with lameness.
- The major concern was cosmetic defects and potential functional issues that could arise in future use.
- Three out of the six horses were treated surgically using a technique called bursoscopic debridement. Two of these three horses had excellent cosmetic results post-surgery. One of the horses experienced a recurrence of the condition after surgery.
- All the horses which received medical treatment did not show any resolution of the bursitis.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that bursoscopy, in combination with prolonged bandage application, could be an effective way to manage subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon when medical treatment fails.
- The study also highlighted that subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon is not commonly diagnosed, indicating a lack of knowledge and understanding of the condition.
- Despite being a small case series, the study offers insights and informs future research into the clinical management of subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Iglesias-García M, Roquet I, Jiménez J, Martín-Cuervo M, Fuentes-Romero B, Ezquerra-Calvo LJ.
(2019).
Clinical findings and management of six horses with subtendinous bursitis of the long digital extensor tendon in the hind limb fetlock.
Vet Surg, 48(8), 1514-1519.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13315 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Surgery, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Department of Equine Surgery, Private practice, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Equine Surgery, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Department of Equine Internal Medicine, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Department of Equine Internal Medicine, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Department of Equine Surgery, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bursitis / pathology
- Bursitis / surgery
- Bursitis / veterinary
- Debridement
- Female
- Hindlimb / pathology
- Hindlimb / surgery
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Joints
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Tendons / pathology
References
This article includes 22 references
- McIlwraith CW. Diseases of joints, tendons ligaments and related structures. In: Stashak TS, ed. Adam's Lameness in Horses. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2002:459-644.
- Baxter GM. Management of bursitis. In: Auer J, Stick J, eds. Equine Surgery. 4th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2012:1148-1157.
- Honnas CM, Schumacher J, McClure SR. Treatment of olecranon bursitis in horses: 10 cases (1986-1993). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1995;206(7):1022-1026.
- Abuja GA, García-López JM, Manso-Díaz G, Spoormakers TJP, Taeymans O. The cranial nuchal bursa : anatomy, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic approach. Equine Vet J 2014;46:745-750.
- Garcia-Lopez JM, Jenei T, Chope K, Bubeck KA. Diagnosis and management of cranial and caudal nuchal bursitis in four horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2010;237(7):823-829.
- Bergren AL, Abuja GA, Bubeck KA, Spoormakers TJP, García-López JM. Diagnosis, treatment and outcome of cranial nuchal bursitis in 30 horses. Equine Vet J 2018;50(4):465-469.
- Post EM, Singer ER, Clegg PD, Smith RK, Cripps PJ. Retrospective study of 24 cases of septic calcaneal bursitis in the horse. Equine Vet J 2003;35(7):662-668.
- Whitcomb MB, Jeune SS, Macdonald MM, Galuppo LD, Judy CE. Disorders of the infraespinatus tendon and bursa in three horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;229(4):549-556.
- Redding WR. Ultrasound. In: Baxter GM, ed. Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses. 6th ed. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell; 2011:338-377.
- Budras KD, Sack WO, Röck S. The thoracic limb. In: Budras KD, Sack WO, Röck S, eds. Anatomy of the Horse. 4th ed. Hannover, Germany: Schlutersche; 2003:2-13.
- International Committee on Veterinary Gross Anatomical Nomenclature. Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria. 6th ed. 2017. http://www.wava-amav.org/wava-documents.html. Accessed August 14, 2019.
- Liebich H, König H, Maierl J. Forelimb or thoracic limb. In: König H, Liebich H, eds. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals. Stuttgart, Germany: Schattauer; 2004:129-196.
- Ashdown RR, Done SH, Evans SA, Baines EA. The forelimb. In: Ashdown RR, Done SH, eds. The Horse. London: Elsevier: Mosby; 2011:84-118 Color Atlas of Veterinary Anatomy. Vol. 2.
- Denoix JM. The fetlock. In: Denoix JM, ed. The Equine Distal Limb. London: Manson Publishing; 2000:242-373.
- Septimus Sisson SB. Fasciae and muscles of the horse. In: Septimus Sisson SB, ed. The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1914:293-316.
- Dyson SJ. Bursae and other soft tissue swellings. In: Ross MK, Dyson SJ, eds. Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2003:705-708.
- Dyson SJ. Bursae and other soft tissue swellings. In: Ross MK, Dyson SJ, eds. Diagnosis and Managment of Lameness in the Horse. 2nd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2011:799-802.
- Schramme M, Schumacher J. Management of bursitis. In: Auer J, Stick J, Kummerle J, Prange T, eds. Equine Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2019:1399-1411.
- Post EM, Singer ER, Clegg PD. An anatomic study of the calcaneal bursae in the horse. Vet Surg 2007;36:3-9.
- Vanderperren K, Saunders JH. Diagnostic imaging of the equine fetlock region using radiography and ultrasonography. Part 1: soft tissues. Vet J 2009;181(2):111-122.
- Dik KJ, Keg PR. The efficacy of contrast radiography to demonstrate “false thoroughpins” in five horses. Equine Vet J 1990;22(3):223-225.
- Kuemmerle JM, Auer JA, Rademacher N, Lischer CJ, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Fürst AE. Short incomplete sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in ten horses not used for racing. Vet Surg 2008;37(2):193-200.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists