Relationship between the ultrasonographic findings of suspected superficial
digital flexor tendon injury and the prevalence of subsequent severe superficial digital
flexor tendon injuries in Thoroughbred horses: a retrospective study |
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| Authors: | Mai IIMORI Norihisa TAMURA Kazuhiro SEKI Yoshinori KASASHIMA |
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| Institution: | 1)Racehorse Clinic, Ritto Training Center, Japan Racing Association, 1028 Misono, Ritto-shi, Shiga 520-3085 Japan;2)Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0412, Japan;3)Hidaka Training and Research Center, 535-1 Nishicha, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The onset of severe injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is extremely difficult to predict from slight changes in ultrasonographic findings in cases with no apparent clinical signs. This study investigated the relationship between an increased cross-sectional area (CSA) or edema in the subcutaneous tissue around the tendon and the subsequent onset of severe SDFT injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Horses were classified into three groups based on ultrasound diagnosis (USD) findings: Group A included cases with enlarged tendons; Group B included cases with tendons of normal size but with prominent edema in the peritendinous tissue; and Group C (control group) included cases with no abnormal USD findings. The incidence of subsequent severe tendon injury was significantly higher in the horses in Groups A (25.7%, 28/101) and B (28.3%, 65/212) than in those in Group C (4.9%, 2/41). There were no significant differences in the median period and the median number of races from the first examination to the subsequent tendon injury between Groups A (140 days, 1 race) and B (120 days, 1 race). The results of this study revealed that horses with increased CSA and peritendinous edema are likely to suffer a subsequent severe tendon injury. Also, these two USD findings, i.e., increased CSA and peritendinous edema, indicate the risk of onset of severe SDFT injury. |
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| Keywords: | horse hypoechoic lesions suspected superficial digital flexor tendon ultrasonographic finding |
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