Skador på ytliga böjsenan hos ridhästar - en retrospektiv fallstudie över konservativ behandling
Injuries of the superficial digital flexor tendon are common in racehorses with many reports on different treatment regimes. However there are few studies in riding horses. The purpose of this study was to document the result of conservative treatment of injuries on the superficial digital flexor tendon in riding horses and to find factors that may be important to the outcome.
Hospital records from 1999 to 2003 of 17 non-racehorses at ATGs Animal Hospital in Skara with the diagnosis tendonitis of the superficial digital flexor tendon were reviewed. Follow-up information on treatment, convalescence and final outcome was collected. The injuries were graded from one to four according to their ultrasonographic appearance, with grade four being the most severe injury. Fourteen (82%) of the horses returned to full athletic function. There was statistically significant correlation between outcome of the injuries graded one to three and the injuries graded four, with no successful recovery in the last group. There was also statistically significant correlation between outcome according to age. Eleven (100%) of the horses ? 15 years were successfully recovered compared to three (50%) of the horses > 15 years. Type and time of convalescence varied among the horses and did not seem to be an important factor for the outcome. It was concluded that the prognosis of an injury graded one to three seems to be good and that the prognosis of an injury graded four is poor.
Key words: Horse, tendonitis, superficial digital flexor tendon, conservative treatment
Author?s address: Maria Sjöström, Musserongången 221, SE-135 34 Tyresö, Sweden.