title: Desmitis of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon in the horse: clinical and ultrasonographic features. A report of 24 cases.
abstract: The clinical and ultrasonographic features of desmitis of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (carpal check ligament) are reported in a series of 24 horses. Lameness associated with the carpal check ligament especially was found in Warmblood riding horses ranging in age from 6 to 18 years with a mean age of 11.3 years. The most striking clinical feature was a firm, painful swelling medially and laterally in the proximal and/or mid metacarpal region, corresponding with the dorsoproximal-palmarodistal oblique direction of the carpal check ligament. Sonographically swelling of the carpal check ligament was common, the enlarged ligament mostly showing a type 1-2 texture. Occasionally a more localized lesion with a type 3-4 texture was present. About 40% of the horses also showed additional lesions in (one of three other flexor tendons or ligaments in the metacarpal region. Most horses were treated conservatively, i.e. boxstallrest and/or a controlled exercise regime were applied. From the 19 horses available for follow up (1-36 months), only 3 horses resumed full work. Obviously the prognosis of this injury is guarded.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van den Belt
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005552:Forelimb; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D014463:Ultrasonography