Histopathology in horses with chronic palmar foot pain and age-matched controls. Part 2: The deep digital flexor tendon.
Abstract: Causes of palmar foot pain and the aetiopathogenesis of navicular disease remain poorly understood, despite the high incidence of foot-related lameness. Objective: Abnormalities of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) may contribute to palmar foot pain; ageing degenerative changes may be seen in horses free from lameness; and horses with lameness are likely to have a greater severity of abnormalities than age-matched horses with no history of foot pain. Methods: Feet were selected from horses with a history of uni- or bilateral forelimb lameness of at least 2 months' duration. Histology of the DDFT from the level of the proximal interphalangeal joint to its insertion were examined and the severity of lesions for each site graded. Associations between lesions of the navicular bone, collateral sesamoidean ligaments (CSL), distal sesamoidean impar ligament, navicular bursa, distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint synovium and collateral ligaments of the DIP joint and DDFT were assessed. Results: There was no relationship between age and grade of histological abnormality of the DDFT. There were significant histological differences between groups for lesions of the dorsal layers of the DDFT, but not for lesions of the palmar aspect. There were significant associations between histological grades for the superficial dorsal layer of the DDFT and flexor aspect of the navicular bone; and between the deep dorsal layer of the DDFT and the proximal border and medulla of the navicular bone. The navicular bursa grade was correlated with grades for the superficial dorsal, deep dorsal and deep palmar layers of the DDFT. The histological grades for the CSL and the superficial dorsal layer of the DDFT were also associated. Conclusions: Pathological abnormalities in lame horses often involved the DDFT in addition to the navicular bone. Vascular and matrix changes may precede changes in the fibrocartilage of the navicular bone. Conclusions: Identification of factors leading to vascular changes within the interstitium of the DDFT and changes in matrix composition, may help in future management of palmar foot pain.
Publication Date: 2006-01-18 PubMed ID: 16411582DOI: 10.2746/042516406775374342Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 article discusses a study examining how abnormalities in a tendon in the lower leg of horses, the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), might contribute to foot pain. Comparison is also made between changes due to aging in both sound and lame horses.
Research methodology
- The research involved studying feet from horses that had a history of unidirectional or bilateral front limb lameness that lasted at least two months.
- The researchers examined the histology of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), a specific tendon in the leg of the horse, from the beginning of the proximal interphalangeal joint to its insertion.
- The severeness of the lesions in each area was graded for comparison. This was done for various ligaments and bones in the leg including the navicular bone, collateral sesamoidean ligaments, distal sesamoidean impar ligament, navicular bursa, distal interphalangeal joint synovium, and collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint.
Results of the research
- The study found no correlation between the age of the horse and the grade of abnormality seen in the DDFT histology.
- There were significant histological differences between the groups for lesions found on the dorsal layers (side facing towards the back or upwards) of the DDFT. However, this was not the case with lesions on the palmar aspect (side facing downwards or towards the palm).
- Significant associations were also found between the grade of histological abnormalities in various structures in the leg and those of the DDFT. These included associations between the superficial dorsal layer of the DDFT and the navicular bone; between the deep dorsal layer of the DDFT and the navicular bone and the assessment of grade between the navicular bursa with several layers of the DDFT.
Conclusions of the research
- The study concluded that lame horses often had pathological abnormalities in the DDFT as well as in the navicular bone.
- The changes in the blood vessels and the matrix within the legs might precede changes in the fibrocartilage of the navicular bone.
- The future management of foot pain can benefit from identifying factors leading to vascular changes within the interstitium (spaces within a tissue or organ) of the DDFT and changes in matrix composition.
Cite This Article
APA
Blunden A, Dyson S, Murray R, Schramme M.
(2006).
Histopathology in horses with chronic palmar foot pain and age-matched controls. Part 2: The deep digital flexor tendon.
Equine Vet J, 38(1), 23-27.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406775374342 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Preventive Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / pathology
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Pain / etiology
- Pain / pathology
- Pain / veterinary
- Severity of Illness Index
- Tarsal Bones / pathology
- Tendons / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Porcellato I, Sforna M, Lo Giudice A, Bossi I, Musi A, Tognoloni A, Chiaradia E, Mechelli L, Brachelente C. Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Canine Oral and Cutaneous Melanomas and Melanocytomas: Phenotypic and Prognostic Assessment. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:878949.
- Trolinger-Meadows KD, Biedrzycki AH, He H, Werpy N. Three-Dimensional Segmentation and in silico Comparison of Equine Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Pathology in Horses Undergoing Repeated MRI Examination. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:706046.
- Evrard L, Joostens Z, Vandersmissen M, Audigié F, Busoni V. Comparison Between Ultrasonographic and Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in the Podotrochlear Apparatus of Horses With Foot Pain. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:675180.
- Quam VG, Altmann NN, Brokken MT, Durgam SS. Zonal characterization and differential trilineage potentials of equine intrasynovial deep digital flexor tendon-derived cells. BMC Vet Res 2021 Apr 1;17(1):138.
- Osborn ML, Cornille JL, Blas-Machado U, Uhl EW. The equine navicular apparatus as a premier enthesis organ: Functional implications. Vet Surg 2021 May;50(4):713-728.
- Sullivan SN, Altmann NN, Brokken MT, Durgam SS. In vitro Effects of Methylprednisolone Acetate on Equine Deep Digital Flexor Tendon-Derived Cells. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:486.
- Seghrouchni M, Elkasraoui H, Piro M, Alyakine H, Bouayad H, Chakir J, Tligui N, Elallali K, Azrib R. Osteoarticular radiographic findings of the distal forelimbs in Tbourida Horses. Heliyon 2019 Sep;5(9):e02514.
- Froydenlund TJ, Meehan LJ, Morrison LR, Labens R. A Rare Case of Deep Digital Flexor Tendinopathy following Centesis of the Navicular Bursa. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:169.
- Quam VG, Belacic ZA, Long S, Rice HC, Dhar MS, Durgam S. Equine bone marrow MSC-derived extracellular vesicles mitigate the inflammatory effects of interleukin-1β on navicular tissues in vitro. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):232-242.
- Larsen EA, Williams MR, Schoonover MJ, Jurek KA, Young JM, Duddy HR. Navicular bone fracture and severe deep digital flexor tendinopathy after palmar digital neurectomy in two horses. Open Vet J 2023 Dec;13(12):1752-1759.
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
