Flexural Deformities

Question 1

Define Flexural deformity

Answer 1

Hyperextension of a limb that results from disparity in length of the musculotendinous unit relative to bone length

AKA: CONTRACTED tendon

Question 2

List some causes of Congenital flexural limb deformities

Answer 2

• uterine malpositioning
• Genetic patterns
• teratogenic patterns
• Mare nutrition
• Viral/bacterial infection in mare
• mare goiter
• Sudan grass ingestion

Question 3

Which joints/bones are MOST commonly affected by Congenital flexural deformities?

Answer 3

Fetlock and Carpus

Question 4

What are the clinical signs of Digital hyperextension?

Answer 4

• toe elevated from the ground

- sinking fetlock

Question 5

What tissues are involved in congenital flexural deformities?

Answer 5

• SDF
• DDF
• SL
• Joint capsule

Question 6

How do you treat congenital flexural deformities?

Answer 6

1) conservative: (shoeing, exercise,splints,oxytetracycline, cast)
2) surgical: (Digital flexor tenotomy)

Question 7

What conservative treatment can be used to treat DIGITAL Hyperextension?

Answer 7

• Dallmer glue on shoes

- Oxytetracycline (calcium binding, muscle relaxation->so limb can catch up)

Question 8

What treatment can be used for bilateral contracted tendons?

What is the prognosis?

Answer 8

Surgical:

DIGITAL flexor Tenotomy

• midcarpal incision on flexed leg
• SDFT and DDFT tenotomy
• bandage (2weeks post op)

GOOD prognosis (full recovery 2weeks)

Question 9

What is Tendon Laxity?

What age group does it affect

Answer 9

Acquired flexural deformity:

-6-18months of age

Question 10

What is the cause of Tendon laxity

Answer 10

1) prolonged external coadaptation

2) overloading of limb (pain in contralateral limb)
- OA
- OCD
- Wounds
- Trauma

Question 11

What are the clinical signs of Tendon Laxity?

Answer 11

Dropped fetlock

*rupture at the flexor tendon give similar appearance

Question 12

T/F: reversing muscle atrophy takes as long as initial immobilization time

Answer 12

TRUE

Question 13

How do you treat tendon laxity?

Answer 13

• Shoe with elongated heel

- AMputation (RARE)

Question 14

What clinical signs would you see if your horse had Extensor tendon rupture?
-How would you treat it?

Answer 14

Knuckling over

1) conservatively:
- Fetlock support shoe

2)surgically:
Superior CHECK Ligament desmotomy

Question 15

What is Club foot?

Answer 15

Flexural deformity of the Coffin joint

-contracted tendons

Question 16

What is the cause of Club foot?

Answer 16

Fast growing foals

-bones grow faster than tendons, resulting in heal pain

Question 17

How would you treat CLUB foot?

Answer 17

1) Conservative:
- controlled exercise and nutrition
- reduce intake, trim hell, toe extension

2) Surgical:
- inferior CHECK ligament desmotomy