FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Med Sci / Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspec...
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-12-21 PubMed ID: 34937842PubMed Central: PMC8920721DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0028Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 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

References

This article includes 17 references
  1. Avella CS, Ely ER, Verheyen KL, Price JS, Wood JL, Smith RK. Ultrasonographic assessment of the superficial digital flexor tendons of National Hunt racehorses in training over two racing seasons.. Equine Vet J 2009 May;41(5):449-54.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X391042pubmed: 19642404google scholar: lookup
  2. Birch HL, Bailey AJ, Goodship AE. Macroscopic 'degeneration' of equine superficial digital flexor tendon is accompanied by a change in extracellular matrix composition.. Equine Vet J 1998 Nov;30(6):534-9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04530.xpubmed: 9844973google scholar: lookup
  3. Dyson SJ. Medical management of superficial digital flexor tendonitis: a comparative study in 219 horses (1992-2000).. Equine Vet J 2004 Jul;36(5):415-9.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044868422pubmed: 15253082google scholar: lookup
  4. Gillis CL, Meagher DM, Pool RR, Stover SM, Craychee TJ, Willits N. Ultrasonographically detected changes in equine superficial digital flexor tendons during the first months of race training.. Am J Vet Res 1993 Nov;54(11):1797-802.
    pubmed: 8291753
  5. Kasashima Y, Takahashi T, Smith RK, Goodship AE, Kuwano A, Ueno T, Hirano S. Prevalence of superficial digital flexor tendonitis and suspensory desmitis in Japanese Thoroughbred flat racehorses in 1999.. Equine Vet J 2004 May;36(4):346-50.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044890580pubmed: 15163043google scholar: lookup
  6. Ker RF. The implications of the adaptable fatigue quality of tendons for their construction, repair and function.. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2002 Dec;133(4):987-1000.
    doi: 10.1016/S1095-6433(02)00171-Xpubmed: 12485688google scholar: lookup
  7. Lam KH, Parkin TD, Riggs CM, Morgan KL. Descriptive analysis of retirement of Thoroughbred racehorses due to tendon injuries at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (1992-2004).. Equine Vet J 2007 Mar;39(2):143-8.
    doi: 10.2746/042516407X159132pubmed: 17378443google scholar: lookup
  8. Marr CM, Love S, Boyd JS, McKellar Q. Factors affecting the clinical outcome of injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon in National Hunt and point-to-point racehorses.. Vet Rec 1993 May 8;132(19):476-9.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.132.19.476pubmed: 8506599google scholar: lookup
  9. Oikawa M, Kasashima Y. The Japanese experience with tendonitis in racehorses. J. Equine Sci. 13: 41–56.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.13.41google scholar: lookup
  10. Patterson-Kane JC, Firth EC. The pathobiology of exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Vet J 2009 Aug;181(2):79-89.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.009pubmed: 18406184google scholar: lookup
  11. Reef V. B.1998. Equine Diagnostic Ultrasound, 1st ed., W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia.
  12. Reef VB. Superficial digital flexor tendon healing: ultrasonographic evaluation of therapies.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2001 Apr;17(1):159-78, vii-viii.
    doi: 10.1016/S0749-0739(17)30081-0pubmed: 11488042google scholar: lookup
  13. Ross M W, Genovese R L, Dyson S J, Jorgensen J S. Superficial digital flexor tendonitis. pp. 706–726. In: Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse, 2nd ed. (Ross, M. W. and Dyson, S. J. eds.), W.B. Saunders, St. Louis.
  14. Smith R K W, Cauvin E R J. Ultrasonography of the metacarpus and metatarsus. pp. 73–105. In: Atlas of Equine Ultrasonography, 1st ed. (Kidd, J.A., Lu, K.G. and Frazer, M.L. eds.), John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken.
  15. Tamura N, Kodaira K, Yoshihara E, Mae N, Yamazaki Y, Mita H, Kuroda T, Fukuda K, Tomita A, Kasashima Y. A retrospective cohort study investigating risk factors for the failure of Thoroughbred racehorses to return to racing after superficial digital flexor tendon injury.. Vet J 2018 May;235:42-46.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.03.003pubmed: 29704937google scholar: lookup
  16. Webbon PM. A post mortem study of equine digital flexor tendons.. Equine Vet J 1977 Apr;9(2):61-7.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1977.tb03981.xpubmed: 862604google scholar: lookup
  17. Wilson AM, Goodship AE. Exercise-induced hyperthermia as a possible mechanism for tendon degeneration.. J Biomech 1994 Jul;27(7):899-905.
    doi: 10.1016/0021-9290(94)90262-3pubmed: 8063840google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 1 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
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.