title: Retrospective study of outcome following desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon for type 1 flexural deformity in Thoroughbreds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Determine the long-term outcome for Thoroughbreds undergoing desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (DAL-DDFT) for type 1 flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective matched cohort study
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were retrieved over a 17-year period for Thoroughbreds that underwent DAL-DDFT for type 1 flexural deformity. Long-term outcome was determined by analysis of race records and comparison with maternal siblings. Comparisons between cases and controls included 2-year-old, 3-year-old and total career performance data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 46 cases of DAL-DDFT. The mean age at surgery was 151 days (median 118, range 2-562); 48% of case horses and 77% of 90 controls started in a race. For case horses that did race, the time to first race, total number of starts and prize money per race were not significantly different to maternal siblings. Age at the time of surgery did not alter the likelihood of starting a race.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoroughbreds undergoing DAL-DDFT for type 1 flexural deformity of the DIPJ are less likely to race when compared with their maternal siblings. For those that do race, the time to first race, total races and earnings per race are not different from controls. There is no evidence to suggest that age at the time of surgery influences the likelihood of racing.
authors.affiliation: University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital, Australia. eawa@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Adkins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D007794:Lameness, Animal; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome