Ruptured SDFT

tazzy

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8 March 2009
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Hi,
My horse has ruptured his SDFT LF fully, the ends are 2cm apart. Hes on box rest for 3 months. Does anyone have any experience with fully ruptured tendons??
 
Yes, mine fully ruptured his about 5 years ago. He was on total box rest for 6 months, then walking in hand to build up his strength before being back out in the field as normal at about 10 months. He has never gone back to fast work, but that's fine for me as he's no spring chicken now anyway. My vet, however did say that he knows horses who have resumed hunting/SJing after such an injury. Unfortunately, my boy went on to damage his other one last October and is still on box rest
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Apparently this is fairly common when one tendon is damaged to such an extent.

Most horses will recover well from an injury like this, just be prepared for a long haul. Good luck
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That's so relieving to hear. Such a shame your's has done it again tho. I've been so scared that theres no chance cuz its fully ruptured! absolutely nothing holding together! Did u try anything other than box rest?? Cuz stem cell therapy and shcokwave treatment etc is supsedly gud 4 it?
 
No, just went with the tried and tested box rest. I did use Bioflow magnetic boots though, not sure whether they helped, but I'm sure they didn't do it any harm. I spoke to the vet and a physio about trying any other therapies and we decided against it. This was mainly for the reason that I could have thrown thousands of pounds at it trying to get him right, then he could go in the field and undo it anyway. This was the right choice for my boy because of his age and the fact I don't 'need' him to be anything other than hackable/field sound. It totally depends on what you want to do with yours, whether you think it's worth trying anything else.

I'm not sure if your vet has suggested bandaging for support while yours is on box rest. I bandaged the first time mine was injured and tbh wish I hadn't. Despite my best efforts, he still developed pressure sores. I didn't bandage this time (my vet was fine with this) and found absolutely no difference in the rate of healing or how comfortable he was. The only other thing I did was hosing initially, to get the heat out, then I used an arnica gel over the damaged area. Again, not sure whether it helped, but at least I felt like I was doing something!!

It's bizarre when the tendons rupture - my vet could literally 'waggle' the loose ends! His fetlock never dropped though so they obviously still have some strong supporting structures in place.
 
Ive had shock wave recently will be having scans done on 16th .This was for 50% tear.pm me after next monday if you want results.Good luck with everything
 
A 13.3hh pony that I used to loan ruptured her LF SDFT a few years ago, she did it whilst out hacking and went completely hopping lame, she was on box rest for 6 months and when we started leading her out in hand, she went mad, she would rear and shy and try to pull away. Whilst she was on box rest, her bandages rubbed the front of her leg and she got really bad sores, so the vet was out again and gave us some cream which we had to apply to the wounds. We then had to cut a hole in the front of the bandages so that the cut could breathe and heal. It was horrendus.
Now she has healed well, there is still a bowed look but she has had another foal and she is sound and strong on it. It is just one of lifes accidents but it isn't nice.
 
yeah they mentioned stem cell but said it would be no use as it's non traumatic and totally apart and said ther wouldnt be much point in trying, i had thought to try that at first, im going 2 try cartrophen injections. Its just quite bad cuz his fetlocks dropping but thers only the superficial tendon done. im just so worried about him so any succes stories id love 2 hear!!
 
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