Equine tendon and Ligament disease - Diagnosis and Treatment

Question 1

What are the structures commonly affected in the horse’s distal limb?

Answer 1

Soft tissue injury and overextension of:
SDFT
DDFT
Accessory ligaments 
Suspensory ligament

Question 2

Where are the weight-bearing tendons mostly located?

Answer 2

Palmar aspect near metacarpal region

Horses have overextended metacarpophalangeal joint-permanently

Question 3

Why do injuries to tendons intra and extra-synovial differ in their recovery rate + prognosis?

Answer 3

Tendons heal slower within a sheath

NOT IN SHEATHS:
Have 2 connective tissue layers - Epitenon and Paratenon - helps with healing and helps guiding of tendon - reduce friction

(Paratenon same as periosteum of bone)

Difference between intra nad extra also has a effect of prognosis of recovery

Question 4

Describe the anatomy of

1. Superficial digital flexor tendon
2. Deep digital flexor tendon

Answer 4

Most commonly injured
On superficial side

1. Musculotendinous origin above carpus - through carpal canal within synovial tendon sheath (Carpal sheath (S+DFT) - then in midcarpal region-is contained another tendon sheath with DDFT (Digital)- palmer aspect of distal limb and pastern
2. 50 cm in length - inserts by fibrocartilagenous pad onto proximal end P2

Question 5

What is suspensory ligament also known as?

Answer 5

Musculus interosseus medius

Question 6

What does desmitis mean?

Answer 6

inflammation of a ligament - see swelling and enlargement on U/s