How do you treat deep digital flexor tendon injury?
If the problem is tendinitis, your veterinarian may suggest an injection of anti-inflammatory medications into the tendon sheath (covering). Regenerative therapies, such as stem cells and platelet-rich plasma, are being used to improve healing in torn tendons and ligaments alike.
Can a horse be ridden after a tendon injury?
The prognosis for return to ridden work is generally poor. If surgery is an option for the injury, it’s more likely that the lameness will improve, although not all horses are able to return to the same level of ridden work and of those who do, a proportion relapse.
Why does my horse have Windpuffs?
Many horses have windpuffs, especially on the hind legs. Most windpuffs don’t cause pain. They are simply extra fluid, creating a soft enlargement. Windpuffs may be caused by an acute insult or trauma and the tendon sheath is stretched, allowing for extra accumulation of fluid, but the horse is no longer lame.
What is a Tenoscopy?
Tenoscopy is a technique similar to arthroscopy, in which tiny incisions in the skin allow for careful visualization and cleaning of tendon injuries.
What causes digital flexor tendinitis and tenosynovitis?
Digital flexor tendinitis and tenosynovitis are idiopathic but are common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes mellitus. Repetitive use of the hands (as may occur when using heavy gardening shears) may contribute. In diabetes, they often coexist with carpal tunnel syndrome and occasionally with fibrosis of the palmar fascia.
What’s the prognosis for digital sheath tenosynovitis?
Recovery of Digital Sheath Tenosynovitis in Horses. The prognosis for horses suffering from this condition varies depending on a number of factors, including the degree of tendon involvement and the speed of which diagnosis and treatment is given. For horses with stage 1 tenosynovitis, the prognosis for full recovery is excellent,…
What is the treatment for deep digital flexor tendon ( DDFT )?
Ultrasonographic examination is essential to determine if tenosynovitis is associated with a lesion of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), which requires a longer convalescence, and horses have a more guarded prognosis than those with primary tenosynovitis. Treatment is based on reducing inflammation and controlling exercise.
How to tell if your horse has digital sheath tenosynovitis?
Tenosynovitis can often be seen through visual examination, in horses that present with pain caused by this condition one sheath may be noticeably larger than the other. Other symptoms that may be seen are: Tenosynovitis is the swelling of the digital sheath that surrounds the superficial and deep flexor tendons in the leg of the horse.