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The Journal of veterinary medical science2021; 84(2); 261-265; doi: 10.1292/jvms.21-0028

Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspected superficial digital flexor tendon injury and the prevalence of subsequent severe superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred horses: a retrospective study.

Abstract: The onset of severe injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is extremely difficult to predict from slight changes in ultrasonographic findings in cases with no apparent clinical signs. This study investigated the relationship between an increased cross-sectional area (CSA) or edema in the subcutaneous tissue around the tendon and the subsequent onset of severe SDFT injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Horses were classified into three groups based on ultrasound diagnosis (USD) findings: Group A included cases with enlarged tendons; Group B included cases with tendons of normal size but with prominent edema in the peritendinous tissue; and Group C (control group) included cases with no abnormal USD findings. The incidence of subsequent severe tendon injury was significantly higher in the horses in Groups A (25.7%, 28/101) and B (28.3%, 65/212) than in those in Group C (4.9%, 2/41). There were no significant differences in the median period and the median number of races from the first examination to the subsequent tendon injury between Groups A (140 days, 1 race) and B (120 days, 1 race). The results of this study revealed that horses with increased CSA and peritendinous edema are likely to suffer a subsequent severe tendon injury. Also, these two USD findings, i.e., increased CSA and peritendinous edema, indicate the risk of onset of severe SDFT injury.
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Publication Date: 2021-12-21 PubMed ID: 34937842PubMed Central: PMC8920721DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0028Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research looks at the link between early ultrasound signs of tendon injury and the subsequent occurrence of serious superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries in Thoroughbred horses. The findings reveal that horses exhibiting increased cross-sectional area (CSA) and edema in the tissue around the tendon have an elevated risk of serious tendon injury.

Research Methodology

  • The study employed ultrasound to detect early signs of tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. The primary focus was on changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the tendon and edema (swelling caused by fluid) in the tissue around the tendon.
  • Horses were classified into three distinct groups based on their ultrasound diagnoses. Group A had horses with enlarged tendons; Group B included horses with normal-sized tendons but significant edema in the tissue surrounding the tendon, and Group C that served as the control group constituted horses without any abnormal ultrasound findings.

Key Findings

  • The study found that the occurrence of severe tendon injury was significantly higher in Group A and B horses compared to Group C. More specifically, 25.7% of Group A and 28.3% of Group B horses suffered serious tendon injuries, compared to just 4.9% in Group C.
  • There were no significant distinctions between Groups A and B concerning the median period and the median number of races from the first examination to when the tendon injury occurred. For both groups, the median was 140 days and 1 race for Group A, and 120 days and 1 race for Group B.
  • Horses with an increased CSA and significant peritendinous edema were found to be at a high risk of suffering serious tendon injury subsequently. This suggests that these two ultrasound findings can be reliable indicators of the risk of severe SDFT injury onset.

Cite This Article

APA
Iimori M, Tamura N, Seki K, Kasashima Y. (2021). Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspected superficial digital flexor tendon injury and the prevalence of subsequent severe superficial digital flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred horses: a retrospective study. J Vet Med Sci, 84(2), 261-265. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.21-0028

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 84
Issue: 2
Pages: 261-265

Researcher Affiliations

Iimori, Mai
  • Racehorse Clinic, Ritto Training Center, Japan Racing Association, 1028 Misono, Ritto-shi, Shiga 520-3085 Japan.
Tamura, Norihisa
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.
Seki, Kazuhiro
  • Hidaka Training and Research Center, 535-1 Nishicha, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Kasashima, Yoshinori
  • Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horses
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tendon Injuries / diagnostic imaging
  • Tendon Injuries / epidemiology
  • Tendon Injuries / veterinary
  • Tendons

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Leal Reis I, Lopes B, Sousa P, Sousa AC, Branquinho M, Caseiro AR, Pedrosa SS, Rêma A, Oliveira C, Porto B, Atayde L, Amorim I, Alvites R, Santos JM, Maurício AC. Allogenic Synovia-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Treatment of Equine Tendinopathies and Desmopathies-Proof of Concept. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 11;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13081312pubmed: 37106875google scholar: lookup
  2. Choi Y, Parkin T. Risk factors for superficial digital flexor tendinopathy in Thoroughbred racehorses in South Korea (2015-2019). Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):31-39.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14493pubmed: 40104935google scholar: lookup
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