Long-term results of desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (distal check ligament) in horses.

This study tracked the long-term outcomes for 40 horses following a surgical treatment, specifically a desmotomy, for a flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint. The study found that most of these horses returned to their intended athletic use, and complications appeared to be more related to the deformity itself rather than the surgery.

Research Method

• The research involved the observation and analysis of medical records of 40 horses who had undergone desmotomy, a specific surgical operation that was performed to treat a flexural deformity commonly referred to as a contracture of the deep digital flexor tendon.
• This deformity had been diagnosed and treated in different stages: some horses were under a year old (group A, labelled acute) and some were over a year old (group B, labelled chronic).
• Information about the horses’ general health (soundness), their return to intended activities usually athletic in nature, and the cosmetic impact of the surgery was collected.

Main Findings

• From a total of 40 horses that were part of the study, 35 were found to be not lame and were actively participating in athletic activities. Of these, 24 were from the acute group and 11 were from the chronic group.
• In terms of the owner’s intentions before the discovery and treatment of the deformity, 33 horses were able to serve their intended purpose after the surgery.
• There were 7 horses that could not serve their intended use. Six of them had complications related to the originally present deformity, while one horse faced complications that were a direct result of the surgical process.

Implications of the Study

• This study shows that desmotomy can be a successful treatment for the flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses. Majority of the horses returned to their intended use after the treatment.
• The research also hints toward the fact that most of the complications faced by the horses after surgery were perhaps due to the deformity itself and not the surgical intervention, which is promising for future surgical treatments.