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Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14437

Performance of Warmblood horses following tenoscopic desmotomy of the main part of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon for treatment of tendinopathy: 62 cases.

Abstract: Desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon (AL-SDFT) has been described for the treatment of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) tendinopathy in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses, and in event horses. To our knowledge, the outcome of this procedure has not been described in a population of warmblood horses. Objective: To report on the outcome of treatment of SDFT tendinopathy in warmblood horses using tenoscopic desmotomy of the main part of the AL-SDFT. Methods: Prospective observational case series. Methods: All 62 horses included in the case series had uni- or bilateral SDFT tendinopathy within the metacarpal/carpal region. The following data were collected and analysed using crosstabulations: breed, age, sex, use, affected limb(s), duration of tendinopathy, lameness grade, type and size of the SDFT lesion, bi- or unilateral desmotomy, duration of surgery, intraoperative findings, intraoperative/post-operative complications, duration of hospitalisation and outcome 24 months after surgery. Results: Forty-six horses (75%) were sound with 31 (51%) of these horses performing at the same level as prior to injury. Recurrent SDFT injuries or persistent lameness was observed in 15 (25%) horses. Two horses (3%) developed septic tenosynovitis post-operatively, one required euthanasia. Horses with lesions in the proximal third of the SDFT had a better outcome than those with lesions in the two distal thirds (OR = 4.71, 95% CI = 1.33-16.70). Conclusions: There were no control groups of horses with SDFT tendinopathy treated by conservative therapy, tenoscopic complete or conventional open desmotomy. Conclusions: Tenoscopic desmotomy of the main part of the AL-SDFT is a successful treatment for SDFT tendinopathy in warmblood horses, especially in proximal SDFT lesions. Unassigned: Die Desmotomie des Unterstützungsbandes der oberflächlichen Beugesehne (UB‐OBS) wurde für die Behandlung der Tendinopathien der oberflächlichen Beugesehne (OBS) bei Galopp‐ und Trab‐Rennpferden, sowie bei Vielseitigkeitspferden beschrieben. Unseres Wissens wurde das Outcome dieser Operationstechnik noch nicht bei einer Population von Warmblutpferden beschrieben. ZIEL: Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, über die Resultate der Behandlung der Tendinopathien der OBS bei Warmblutpferden mittels tenoskopischer Desmotomie des Hauptteils des UB‐OBS zu berichten. Methods: Prospektive deskriptive Fallserie. Methods: Alle 62 Pferde, die in die Fallserie aufgenommen wurden, hatten eine ein‐ oder beidseitige Tendinopathie der OBS im Bereich des Metacarpus/Carpus. Folgende Daten wurden erhoben und anhand von Kreuztabellen analysiert: Rasse, Alter, Geschlecht, Verwendung, betroffene Gliedmaße(n), Dauer der Tendinopathie, Grad der Lahmheit, Art und Größe der OBS‐Verletzung, bi‐ oder unilaterale Desmotomie, Dauer der Operation, intraoperative Befunde, intra‐ und postoperative Komplikationen, Dauer des Klinikaufenthalts und Resultate 24 Monate nach der Operation. Unassigned: Von allen operierten Pferden waren 46 (75%) gesund, und 31 (51%) dieser Pferde erbrachten die gleiche Leistung wie vor der Verletzung. Rezidivierende OBS‐Verletzungen oder anhaltende Lahmheit wurden bei 15 (25 %) Pferden beobachtet. Zwei Pferde (3 %) entwickelten postoperativ eine septische Tenosynovitis der Carpalbeugesehnenscheide, ein Pferd musste euthanasiert werden. Pferde mit Verletzungen im proximalen Drittel der SDFT hatten ein besseres Outcome als solche mit Verletzungen in den beiden distalen Dritteln (OR = 4,71, 95% CI = 1,33 bis 16,70). Unassigned: Es gab keine Kontrollgruppen von Pferden mit OBS‐Tendinopathie, die mit einer konservativen Therapie, einer vollständigen tenoskopischen oder konventionellen offenen Desmotomie behandelt wurden. Unassigned: Die tenoskopische Desmotomie des Hauptteils des UB‐OBS ist eine erfolgreiche Behandlung von Tendinopathien der OBS bei Warmblutpferden, insbesondere bei proximalen OBS‐Verletzungen.
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Publication Date: 2024-12-05 PubMed ID: 39639734DOI: 10.1111/evj.14437Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 is about the successful treatment of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) tendinopathy in warmblood horses using tenoscopic desmotomy. The study looked at 62 cases and found the treatment had a high success rate, particularly when lesions were located in the proximal third of the SDFT.

Overview of the research

  • This research looked at the treatment of SDFT tendinopathy in warmblood horses using tenoscopic desmotomy of the main part of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon (AL-SDFT).
  • The study was a prospective observational case series. It included 62 horses, all with either one-sided or bilateral SDFT tendinopathy within the metacarpal/carpal region.
  • Various data, including breed, age, sex, which limb was affected, extent and size of the lesion, duration of tendinopathy and lameness grade, were recorded and analysed.

Outcome of surgery

  • Of the 62 horses studied, 46 (75%) were found to be sound after the surgery and 31 of these were performing at the same level as prior to injury.
  • However, 15 horses (25%) did develop either recurring SDFT injuries or persistent lameness.
  • The study also reported that two horses (3%) developed septic tenosynovitis – a severe inflammation of the tendon sheath due to bacterial infection – post-operatively, with one of these needing to be euthanised.

Link between lesion location and treatment outcome

  • The location of the lesions in relation to the SDFT played a role in the outcome of the treatment. Horses with lesions in the proximal third of the SDFT had a better outcome compared to those with lesions in the two distal thirds. This was evidenced by the odds ratio of 4.71, suggesting that horses with proximal lesions were about 4.71 times more likely to have a successful outcome after treatment.

Limitations of the Study

  • The study reported its limitations, stating that there were no control groups of horses with SDFT tendinopathy treated conservatively, with a full tenoscopic, or with conventional open desmotomy for comparison with the method used in the study.

Conclusion

  • The tenoscopic desmotomy of the main part of the AL-SDFT was found to be a successful treatment for SDFT tendinopathy in warmblood horses, particularly in proximal SDFT lesions.

Cite This Article

APA
Blatter M, Chapman HS, Heinzel-Gutenbrunner M, von Plato G, Rijkenhuizen A. (2024). Performance of Warmblood horses following tenoscopic desmotomy of the main part of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon for treatment of tendinopathy: 62 cases. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14437

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Blatter, Marlis
  • Equine Clinic Leichlingen, Leichlingen, Germany.
Chapman, Hannah-Sophie
  • Equine Clinic Leichlingen, Leichlingen, Germany.
Heinzel-Gutenbrunner, Monika
  • MH Statistik Beratung, Marburg, Germany.
von Plato, Guido
  • Equine Clinic Leichlingen, Leichlingen, Germany.
Rijkenhuizen, Astrid
  • European Equine Surgeon Consultant, Wijk bij Duurstede, The Netherlands.

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