Superficial digital flexor tendonitis in thoroughbred race horses: outcome following non-surgical treatment and superior check desmotomy.

The research evaluates the effects of non-surgical treatment versus superior check desmotomy on Thoroughbred racehorses with superficial digital flexor tendonitis. The findings suggest the surgical procedure does not significantly prevent re-injury but increases the likelihood of other ligament injuries.

Study Methodology and Scope

• The study was a prospective examination of 124 Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendonitis.
• Horses’ flexor tendons were evaluated with a physical and ultrasonographic assessment prior to treatment, and detected lesions in the tendons were categorized based on lesion type, size, and cross-sectional area.
• Among the study group, 93 horses underwent non-surgical management, while 31 horses were treated through superior check desmotomy (a surgical procedure).
• The study also dealt with definitions of recurrent or new injuries as injuries that affect a previously damaged superficial digital flexor tendon, its counterpart on the opposite limb, or the interosseous muscle (suspensory ligament) in any forelimb.

Study Findings

• There was no statistically significant disparities in the severity of ultrasonographic lesions among the two treatment groups.
• Horses that underwent superior check desmotomy had a 1.3 times higher likelihood of completing five or more races compared to horses that were non-surgically managed.
• Surgically treated horses were found to be 1.2 times more likely to develop recurrent or new injuries after returning to training than non-surgically treated horses.
• However, horses that underwent superior check desmotomy were 5.5 times more probable to develop suspensory ligament injuries (desmitis) than those managed non-surgically.
• The periods to develop recurrent or new injuries did not show significant disparity between the two groups.

Conclusions

• There was no significant difference between the two groups when it came to the percentage of horses that could complete five or more races after recovering from an episode of SDF tendonitis. Hence, superior check desmotomy did not have a marked advantage over non-surgery in preventing recurrent or new injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses.
• Interestingly, horses subject to superior check desmotomy tended to have a higher risk of sustaining suspensory ligament injuries compared to those managed non-surgically.