Tenoscopic surgical treatment of tears of the manica flexoria in 53 horses.

This study investigated the typical characteristics and prognosis of horses with tears in the manica flexoria (MF), a part of the horse’s limb, after surgical removal of the affected area. The study found that such injuries are most common in smaller types of horses and are likely to occur in the hindlimbs. Following surgery, a significant majority of horses returned to their previous level of physical activity.

Research Methodology

• The researchers reviewed medical records dating from January 2001 to December 2011. These records were of horses that had undergone tenoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, to treat MF tears.
• The researchers also conducted telephone questionnaires to gather follow-up information from the owners of the horses.

Findings and Analysis

• The study examined records of 53 horses, with a total of 65 MF tears, that received the surgery.
• The majority (83%) of the horses that sustained the injury were cobs or ponies, suggesting that smaller types of horses are overrepresented for this kind of injury.
• MF injuries more commonly occurred in the hindlimbs, accounting for 85% of the cases. Additionally, all of the MF injuries were accompanied by swelling of the sheath that encloses the digital flexor tendon, which is located in the lower part of a horse’s limb.

Post-Surgery Outcomes

• Follow-up surveys conducted more than three months after surgery found that nearly 79% of horses (42 out of 53) returned to their pre-injury level of ridden exercise.
• Seven horses returned to a lower level of exercise than before the injury.
• Three horses remained lame even after the surgery, and one horse had to be euthanatized.

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that tears in the MF likely occur in cobs and ponies’ hindlimbs.
• The majority of horses were able to return to their pre-injury level of activity following tenoscopic surgery.