Ultrasonographic evaluation and long-term follow-up of flexor tendonitis/desmitis in the metacarpal/metatarsal region in Dutch warmblood horses and standardbred racehorses.
Over a 2 year-period, the ultrasonographic localization and distribution of flexor tendinous and ligamentous injuries, the long-term follow-up, and the outcome were studied in 101 Dutch Warmblood horses (DW) with a mean age of 8.7 years and in 71 Standardbred racehorses (ST) with a mean age of 5.2 years. The ratio between forelimb and hind limb flexor tendonitis/desmitis in the DW-group was 4:1 and in the ST-group group 4:3. In the DW-group, tendonitis/desmitis of the suspensory ligament (32%), the superficial digital flexor tendon (29%), the distal carpal check ligament (17%) of the forelimb (SLf, SDFf, and CL, respectively) and the suspensory ligament (11%) of the hind limb (SLh) occurred the most often. In the ST-group, tendonitis of the SDFf (34%) and desmitis of the SLh (34%) and SLf (18%) were the most common injuries. Of the 60 Dutch Warmblood horses available for follow-up, 25% showed full-functional recovery. Of the 61 Standardbreds available for follow-up, 18% showed full-functional recovery. Overall, local axial lesions seemed to have a worse prognosis than local abaxial or diffusive lesions.
van den Belt
A J
AJ
Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dik
K J
KJ
Barneveld
A
A
D000818:Animals; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D008663:Metacarpus; D008682:Metatarsal Bones; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014463:Ultrasonography