Do regional variations in flexor tendons predispose to site-specific injuries?
Abstract: Partial rupture occurs most often to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) of the forelimb at the mid-metacarpal level. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the mid-metacarpal region of the SDFT has the smallest cross sectional area (CSA) and a similar collagen content to other regions and, therefore, represents a weak point in the tendon. The SDFT was collected from the forelimbs of 9 horses. Each tendon was marked at 7 different levels from the origin of the accessory ligament to the phalangeal region. The CSA, water content and collagen content was measured at each level. The mid-metacarpal level had a significantly smaller CSA than the most proximal and distal levels measured and a significantly higher dry matter content than proximal levels. However, the total amount of collagen present in the mid-metacarpal section was not significantly less than other regions except for the most distal sections. The results of this study suggest that the mid-metacarpal region of the SDFT, although smaller in CSA, is not significantly weaker than the proximal end and manica flexoria region of the tendon. Therefore, other factors such as hypoxia and/or hyperthermia may be responsible for site-specific tendon lesions in the SDFT.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405703DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05435.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research tested the hypothesis that the mid-metacarpal region of a horse’s Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT) is prone to injury because of smaller cross-sectional area and similar collagen content. However, the results showed that despite having a smaller surface area, this region isn’t weaker. Therefore, tendon injuries in this region could be influenced by other factors such as hypoxia or hyperthermia.
Objective and Hypothesis
- The research was aimed at understanding why the mid-metacarpal region of the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT) in horses’ forelimbs is more prone to injury.
- The initial hypothesis suggested this vulnerability might be attributed to the region’s smaller cross-sectional area and similar collagen content when compared to other regions.
Research Methodology
- SDFTs were collected from the forelimbs of 9 horses for this study.
- Each tendon was marked at seven different levels starting from the origin of the accessory ligament to the phalangeal region.
- Three key measures were taken from each level: the cross-sectional area (CSA), water content, and collagen content.
Findings and Analysis
- The study found that the mid-metacarpal level indeed had a significantly smaller CSA compared to the most proximal and distal levels measured.
- The dry matter content at the mid-metacarpal level was discovered to be significantly higher than at proximal levels.
- Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the amount of collagen present in the mid-metacarpal section wasn’t significantly less than in other regions, except for the most distal sections.
Conclusion
- The results suggest that while the mid-metacarpal region of the SDFT does have a smaller CSA, it isn’t significantly weaker than the proximal end and manica flexoria region of the tendon.
- This led the researchers to speculate that site-specific tendon lesions in the SDFT might be as a result of other factors, such as hypoxia (low oxygen levels) or hyperthermia (high temperature).
Cite This Article
APA
Birch HL, Smith TJ, Poulton C, Peiffer D, Goodship AE.
(2002).
Do regional variations in flexor tendons predispose to site-specific injuries?
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 288-292.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05435.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carpus, Animal / injuries
- Carpus, Animal / pathology
- Collagen / analysis
- Female
- Forelimb
- Glycosaminoglycans / analysis
- Horses / injuries
- Ligaments
- Male
- Rupture / etiology
- Rupture / veterinary
- Tendon Injuries / etiology
- Tendon Injuries / pathology
- Tendon Injuries / veterinary
- Tendons / pathology
- Tensile Strength
- Water / analysis
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Abdelhakiem MAH, Hussein A, Seleim SM, Abdelbaset AE, Abd-Elkareem M. Silver nanoparticles and platelet-rich fibrin accelerate tendon healing in donkey. Sci Rep 2023 Feb 28;13(1):3421.
- Janczarek I, Kędzierski W, Tkaczyk E, Kaczmarek B, Łuszczyński J, Mucha K. Thermographic Analysis of the Metacarpal and Metatarsal Areas in Jumping Sport Horses and Leisure Horses in Response to Warm-Up Duration. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 6;11(7).
- Alzola R, Easter C, Riggs CM, Gardner DS, Freeman SL. Ultrasonographic-based predictive factors influencing successful return to racing after superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in flat racehorses: A retrospective cohort study in 469 Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong. Equine Vet J 2018 Sep;50(5):602-608.
- Youngstrom DW, Barrett JG, Jose RR, Kaplan DL. Functional characterization of detergent-decellularized equine tendon extracellular matrix for tissue engineering applications. PLoS One 2013;8(5):e64151.
- Thorpe CT, Birch HL, Clegg PD, Screen HR. The role of the non-collagenous matrix in tendon function. Int J Exp Pathol 2013 Aug;94(4):248-59.
- Thorpe CT, Udeze CP, Birch HL, Clegg PD, Screen HR. Specialization of tendon mechanical properties results from interfascicular differences. J R Soc Interface 2012 Nov 7;9(76):3108-17.
- Scott A, Khan KM, Duronio V. IGF-I activates PKB and prevents anoxic apoptosis in Achilles tendon cells. J Orthop Res 2005 Sep;23(5):1219-25.
- Scharf A, Acutt E, Bills K, Werpy N. Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing and managing deep digital flexor tendinopathy in equine athletes: Insights, advances and future directions. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1183-1203.
- Eren G, López-Albors O, Guilabert Segura R, Jordan Montesinos J, Latorre R. Accessory Ligament of the Deep Digital Flexor Tendon of the Horse Forelimb and Its Relationship with the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon: A Plastination, Histological, and Morphometry Study. Animals (Basel) 2024 Oct 14;14(20).
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