title: Superior check ligament desmotomy for treatment of superficial digital flexor tendonitis in thoroughbred and standardbred horses.
abstract: Bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy was performed on 31 Thoroughbred and 17 Standardbred horses as the sole method of treatment for superficial digital flexor tendonitis. Horses resumed racing between 6 and 19 months after surgery. Horses that were able to compete in 5 or more races without injury to the tendon again were considered to have had a successful return to racing. Twenty-five Thoroughbreds were suitable for later study and 13 of these (52%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Fifteen Standardbreds were suitable for later study and 10 of these (66%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Within the racing industry it is generally thought that about 20 to 30% of horses with superficial digital flexor tendonitis can return to racing after a prolonged rest. The results of this study suggest that bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy may improve the prognosis for a horse returning to racing after injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon.
authors.affiliation: Ballarat Veterinary Practice, Victoria.
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: O'Rielly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Church
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005552:Forelimb; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*