Semitendinosus tenotomy for treatment of fibrotic myopathy in the horse.

This study examined the efficacy of semitendinosus tenotomy as a treatment for fibrotic myopathy in horses, compared to the traditional treatment method of partial myotenectomy. Findings from the study suggest that both treatments are equally effective, but the tenotomy procedure has better cosmetic outcomes.

Research Objective and Methodology

• The goal of the research was to study the effectiveness of semitendinosus tenotomy – a surgical incision into the semitendinosus muscle – in treating fibrotic myopathy in horses. Fibrotic myopathy is a muscle disorder causing stiffness and abnormal gait.
• The researchers used medical records and follow-up data from four horses diagnosed with fibrotic myopathy that were treated using semitendinosus tenotomy.
• The gait deficit in all four horses was characteristic of fibrotic myopathy and two of the horses had been suffering from this condition since birth.
• The results obtained from this procedure were compared with the traditional treatment method, which is partial myotenectomy, or partial removal of the affected muscle.

Findings and Conclusion

• The study found that semitendinosus tenotomy is as effective as partial myotenectomy in restoring the athletic function of horses suffering from fibrotic myopathy.
• In terms of cosmetic outcomes, semitendinosus tenotomy showed superior results when compared to what has been reported for partial myotenectomy. This suggests that the tenotomy procedure may be a better treatment choice from a cosmetic viewpoint.
• The research concluded that semitendinosus tenotomy could be considered a viable alternative for treating horses with fibrotic myopathy, especially for those where aesthetics is a concern. Nevertheless, more extensive studies with a larger sample size are necessary to validate these findings.