Cutting the check ligaments to help prevent reinjury of tendons?

A

Arniebear

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 January 2012
Messages
1,449
Visit site
Have put this in competing and training but thought id try in here too :)

Has anyone heard of this surgery? Anyone have any good or bad stories??

It has been suggested as a preventative surgery for my 5yr old who has torn his SDFT, the tendon itself is healing well, its purely to help prevent re-injury.

Such a shame as his career hasn't even started yet :(

Any info on this will be great :)
 
I would imagine it is some form of de nerving rather than actually cutting the check ligament itself ? the ligament has a use after all and is an important structure within the limbs.

Hope someone else comes along with more info.
 
I have recently rehabbed a horse that injured its SDFT, he had plenty of time off, the best part of 12 months, did 3 months slow work and is now back in training expecting to race in January, the tendon injury is expected to stand up to racing and cutting ligaments was never suggested which if it was a common way to prevent reinjury I am sure it would be used in the racing world.
I always thought the check ligament helped prevent tendon injuries, obviously not always but frequently the check will go rather than the tendon, cutting it sounds experimental and in such a young horse I would not consider anything so drastic, give it what is required, time to heal, then more time to strengthen up slowly, it may need 2 years before it can be back in full work but will still only be 7, plenty of time for a career.
 
The cutting of ligaments was never mentioned to me. My big horse did a hind check in 2011 which finished him. The leg is good now but the injury seems to have shortened the ligament which in turn has resulted in an altered gait. He can no longer drop his heel to the ground properly and the shape of his hoof has changed.

I think if it was an option it would have been mentioned.
 
AdorableAlice said:
The cutting of ligaments was never mentioned to me. My big horse did a hind check in 2011 which finished him. The leg is good now but the injury seems to have shortened the ligament which in turn has resulted in an altered gait. He can no longer drop his heel to the ground properly and the shape of his hoof has changed.

I think if it was an option it would have been mentioned.
Click to expand...

If they can manage without full use of the check ligament your boy would have made a full recovery or been a good option to have this operation, if it was done to prevent tendon injury surely it would be in common use in the racing world.
 
Its the annular check ligament which comes from the top of the knee, they dont use it, all it does is add tension to the tendon, by cutting it, it releases the tension in the tendon thus giving it more elasticity and less of a chance of re-injury. Its nothing like de-nerving at all, i was purely asking if anyone else has heard of it after some research it is used for treating a club foot as it gives the tendon more elasticity therefore the foot can extend correctly.

After the scan today his tendon is healing very nicely, this surgery is purely a preventative surgery it reduces the chance of reinjury from 80% down to 25%.

I use rossdales in newmarket my vet is a partner im sure he wouldnt have suggested it unless he knows it works, im not prepared to screw up my horse by an experimental surgery...

I was merely asking if people had heard of it before, i hadnt until today.
 
The proper name of it is an annular ligament desmotomy.... Perhaps by writing cutting the check ligaments wasnt the correct choice of words but i didnt know how else to describe it!!! Its basically a small incision to the annular check ligament to release the tension in the tendon...
 
I am getting confused. Is it something that is only done on a forelimb. My lad has done his hind. Vets said it is a rare injury and his was a 'mush' on the scan.
 
amymay said:
I actually think it's a pretty horrific thing to do. Sorry.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree. The lower limb is moved via pulley systems and stops or tensioners, they all have a function.
Surely the way to try and prevent injury is to ensure correct biomechanics and work appropriately for the level of fitness and general health?
 
alex2601 said:
Its the annular check ligament which comes from the top of the knee, they dont use it, all it does is add tension to the tendon, by cutting it, it releases the tension in the tendon thus giving it more elasticity and less of a chance of re-injury. Its nothing like de-nerving at all, i was purely asking if anyone else has heard of it after some research it is used for treating a club foot as it gives the tendon more elasticity therefore the foot can extend correctly.
Click to expand...
Oh dear!

So release the tension on the tendon by cutting the ligament, so what happens if the tendon is (over) strained? :eek:

ps. Club feet are often an adaption to a body issue which should be addressed first.
I'm afraid I get very wound up by talk of cutting ligaments and tendons to release something or other! They still cut DDFT for rotated pedal bones as well! Why in 21C?
 
Last edited:
they dont cut it off just make a small incision, its not just offered for fore limbs my friends welsh had the surgery on his hinds.

i was under the same impression.... surely they need it? surely by doing this surgery the tendon will over stretch? im just trying to gather as much info as i can... i simply want my competition horse back so he can start his career, if this surgery will help he can have it, if it wont then he wont have it... i just want to do whats best for him. so if anyone has known of any horses who have had this surgery on front or hinds, at the fetlock or the knee and had a sucessful competition career i would like to hear their experiences.

this isnt a new fandangled surgery its been around a while now ive had the chance to do some more research into it. im old school too... as far as im concerned everything is in the body for a reason, hence me asking on here if other people have heard of it and for experiences.

like i said i just want to do whats best for my boy thats all... im not going to put him through surgery if its not best for him but i need to gather all the info before i make a decision
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top