Week 7- Approach to Tendon and Ligament Disease In Horses Flashcards
What is the main function of the tendons?
they transmit forces between the muscle and the bone
* mainly tensile
* also have compressive regions
What is the function of the tendon sheath?
Protects a longer surface
What is the function of the bursa?
Protects a singular point
What is the function of the ligament?
Ligaments transmit forces from bone to bone
* mainly tensile
* structural integrity of joints
Where are ligaments usually located?
Incorporated into joint capsule (e.g. collaterals, suspensory ligament branches)
Intra-synovial (e.g. Cr & Ca CXL, straight distal sesamoidean ligament)
What do ageing tendons usually look like?
Darker brown and reddish centre seen at post mortem = degenerative change
Focal sites of chondroid (cartilaginous) metaplasia à high pressure sites
Osseous metaplasia is pathologic
How do tendons/ ligaments heal?
Three phases of healing
* Inflammation
* Repair
* Remodelling
What three things may decide how fast a tendon heals?
- Location of the lesion
- Duration of the lesion
- Severity of the lesion
What is the main goal of tendon/ ligament treatment?
- resolve pain and inflammation
- restore function
- optimise function
What is tenorrhaphy?
- Tendon suture (with lacerations etc..)
What is tenotomy?
Tendon release
What is tenodesis?
re-attachment of the tendon to another site
What is the aim of ligament surgical repair?
Aim to restore joint stability
¡ Suture repair as for tendons
¡ Anchor through bone tunnel or suture anchor if tissue destroyed
¡ Screw and washer for avulsions
¡ Prosthetics or implants for restructuring joints (e.g.TPLO)
¡ Immobilsation à Arthrodesis as a salvage procedure
