Analyze Diet
Equine veterinary journal1999; 31(1); 12-18; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03785.x

Tenosynovitis associated with longitudinal tears of the digital flexor tendons in horses: a report of 20 cases.

Abstract: The paper describes a series of cases with longitudinal tears in the superficial or deep digital flexor tendons within the digital flexor tendon sheath. This appears to be a previously unreported condition. Twenty cases are described, one horse was affected bilaterally. Nineteen defects involved the deep digital flexor tendon and in 2 horses the manica flexoria of the superficial digital flexor tendon was torn. All affected horses were lame and there was marked distension of the digital flexor tendon sheaths. Ultrasonography revealed nonspecific signs of chronic tenosynovitis but not the cause. Diagnosis was established by tenoscopy in 9 cases and by open surgical exploration in the remainder. In 7 limbs, the deep digital flexor tendon lesions were treated by removal of the torn fibrils under tenoscopic control. In the remaining cases they were removed and the defects were repaired with absorbable suture material. Wound closure in all open cases included repair of the palmar/plantar annular ligament. Eleven horses became sound and returned to work, 3 improved but were lame on returning to work and 2 horses did not improve following treatment. At the time of reporting, 4 horses are sound and in controlled ascending exercise regimes. It is concluded that longitudinal tears of the digital flexor tendons should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath. The results presented suggest that accurate diagnosis and specific treatment justify surgical investigation.
Publication Date: 1999-02-10 PubMed ID: 9952324DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03785.xGoogle 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.
  • 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.

This article reports on a previously unidentified condition in horses involving longitudinal tears in the superficial or deep digital flexor tendons within the digital flexor tendon sheath, often coupled with chronic tenosynovitis. Out of the twenty studied cases, surgical investigation proved instrumental in diagnosing and treating the condition, with satisfactory results achieved in a majority of the horses.

Detailed Overview of the Research

  • The researchers examined a series of twenty cases where horses experienced previously unidentified longitudinal tears in either their superficial or deep digital flexor tendons. In all incidents, the digital flexor tendon sheaths were markedly distended and the horses were all noticeably lame.
  • Ultrasonography procedures were conducted but were unable to definitively identify the cause, revealing only nonspecific signs of chronic tenosynovitis. Definitive diagnosis was only established through either tenoscopy or open surgical exploration.

Detailed Procedures and Treatment

  • Out of the twenty total studied cases, one horse was affected bilaterally, nineteen were defects involving the deep digital flexor tendon, and two included torn manica flexoria of the superficial digital flexor tendon.
  • In seven of these cases, surgeons treated the lesions on the deep digital flexor tendon by removing the torn fibrils under tenoscopic control. The remaining cases required more invasive procedures, involving the removal of the torn elements and repairing the defects with absorbable suture material.
  • Regardless of the exact procedure, all wounded areas were closed up, with all open procedures specifically involving the repair of the palmar/plantar annular ligament.

Results and Conclusions

  • Following treatment, eleven horses became sound and returned to their regular work routines, while three horses showed improvement but remained lame when undertaking work. Two horses showed no signs of improvement post-treatment.
  • At the time of this study’s publication, four horses were both sound and undergoing controlled ascending exercise regimes.
  • Capping off the study, researchers concluded that these types of longitudinal tears should henceforth be recognized as important considerations in the differential diagnosis of tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath.
  • In terms of practical application, the results suggest that accurate diagnosis and specific treatment both justify surgical investigation for such cases — coming out as a productive means in the majority of cases studied.

Cite This Article

APA
Wright IM, McMahon PJ. (1999). Tenosynovitis associated with longitudinal tears of the digital flexor tendons in horses: a report of 20 cases. Equine Vet J, 31(1), 12-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03785.x

Publication

ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 31
Issue: 1
Pages: 12-18

Researcher Affiliations

Wright, I M
  • Reynolds House Referrals, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
McMahon, P J

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Diagnosis, Differential
    • Female
    • Follow-Up Studies
    • Forelimb
    • Hindlimb
    • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horse Diseases / surgery
    • Horses / injuries
    • Lameness, Animal / etiology
    • Male
    • Tendon Injuries / complications
    • Tendon Injuries / diagnosis
    • Tendon Injuries / surgery
    • Tendon Injuries / veterinary
    • Tenosynovitis / diagnosis
    • Tenosynovitis / etiology
    • Tenosynovitis / surgery
    • Tenosynovitis / veterinary

    Citations

    This article has been cited 9 times.
    1. Breen LJ, Stack JD, Gillen AM, Baldwin CM. Needle tenoscopy of the digital flexor tendon sheath in a standing equine cadaver model using a novel approach and guided palmar/plantar annular ligament desmotomy. Vet Surg 2025 Apr;54(3):524-533.
      doi: 10.1111/vsu.14213pubmed: 39911071google scholar: lookup
    2. Mienaltowski MJ, Callahan M, Gonzales NL, Wong A. Examining the Potential of Vitamin C Supplementation in Tissue-Engineered Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Constructs. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Dec 4;24(23).
      doi: 10.3390/ijms242317098pubmed: 38069418google scholar: lookup
    3. van Veggel ECS, Selberg KT, van der Velde-Hoogelander B, Vanderperren K, Cokelaere SM, Bergman HJ. Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Injury at the Level of the Proximal Phalanx in Frontlimbs With Tendon Sheath Distension Characterized by Standing Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Horses: 13 Cases (2015-2021). Front Vet Sci 2021;8:734729.
      doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.734729pubmed: 34869716google scholar: lookup
    4. Chanda M, Klinphayom C, Sungsuwan T, Senarat W, Thongkham E, Kamlangdee A, Senarat N. Diagnostic imaging features, cytological examination, and treatment of lymphocytic tenosynovitis of the common digital extensor tendon sheath in an eventing horse. Vet Anim Sci 2021 Dec;14:100209.
      doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2021.100209pubmed: 34632158google scholar: lookup
    5. Smith R, Önnerfjord P, Holmgren K, di Grado S, Dudhia J. Development of a Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Neo-Epitope Assay for the Detection of Intra-Thecal Tendon Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Mar 20;21(6).
      doi: 10.3390/ijms21062155pubmed: 32245107google scholar: lookup
    6. Lacitignola L, De Luca P, Imperante A, Tommasa SD, Crovace A. Palmar annular ligament desmotomy in horses with the Arthrex-Centerline™ : An ex-vivo study. Open Vet J 2018;8(1):53-56.
      doi: 10.4314/ovj.v8i1.9pubmed: 29445622google scholar: lookup
    7. Bertuglia A, Mollo G, Bullone M, Riccio B. Identification of surgically-induced longitudinal lesions of the equine deep digital flexor tendon in the digital flexor tendon sheath using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: an ex-vivo pilot study. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Nov 25;56(1):78.
      doi: 10.1186/s13028-014-0078-7pubmed: 25421569google scholar: lookup
    8. Wong J, Bennett W, Ferguson MW, McGrouther DA. Microscopic and histological examination of the mouse hindpaw digit and flexor tendon arrangement with 3D reconstruction. J Anat 2006 Oct;209(4):533-45.
    9. Firth EC. The response of bone, articular cartilage and tendon to exercise in the horse. J Anat 2006 Apr;208(4):513-26.