Superficial Tendon

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starllight

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Hi, I think that was what the vet said. Is that right? Sorry, my horse did his tendon yesterday, I am absolutely gutted. When the vet was telling me three to six months box rest I sort of didn't hear everything he was telling me. Anyway he is due to be scanned on Tuesday and we will know more then. Am just really upset and was wondering if anyone has any advice or tips on the healing process with these types of injuries. Sorry hope this makes sense?
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crikey that is a long period of box rest.... you need to work closely with your vet at all stages.

Our old gal did both of her SFFT's on two seperate occasions. The first time she blew it half way down the tendon. She was sound and back in work (albeit with a huge tendon) in around 6 months but we didnt jump her after this, more because of her age than anything.

The second time she tore the tendon behind the knee and the vet wanted to PTS but we retired her and she made an amazing recovery over 3 to 4 months but shes still, even after 18 months, a bit pottery sometimes if shes been looning in the paddock. But then she is in her 20's now !

Heres my experience of these injuries -Immediate attention is vital to control the swelling... the vet normally puts a "knee to foot" pressure bandage on which involves loads of layers to spread the pressure evenly. Bute to control the inflammation, followed by a 2 week initial period to allow the tendon to settle. This is the part where it is vital to keep the horse as quiet as possible. Our girl was then scanned at that point and then rebandaged. We had about 6 weeks in initially.

The tendon starts to grow new fibres but lays them down higgedly-piggedly. You need to keep the leg cool to allow this to happen as heat destroys the new fibres. Then gentle exercise starts...and the idea is the start to pull the new fibres into straight lines. Again, you can start with gentle hand maniupulation, gently flexing the hoof forward and back, if walking isnt possible twcie a day due to light/weather etc. But let your vet show you how....and when !

Its important to control the heat in the leg during the early stages to ensure that good fibres are made and kept. We cold hosed after exercise to help the process along.

Then exercise in hand for around 6 weeks before being put out in a tiny paddock (stable sized) for a few weeks, increasing the space as time went on.


Im not sure if this helps but if its any consolation, its a very common injury and with proper time and management, horses can return to normal competition. I suppose if theres one good thing, you wont be having to ride out at the worst time of year.... and you should have a sound horse to start riding by the spring..... chin up !
 
My boy is back in work following an injury to his deep digital flexor tendon. 2 weeks in a spa, followed by another 8 weeks box/pen rest (the pens were about 5m x 5m) and then was pronounced sound. One month of increased walking, another of trot and then a month of introducing canter. Most important thing following the initial injury is to prevent swelling as much as poss, my horse was in a spa and had daily treatments for a fortnight courtesy of his insurance company and I also ice packed it three times a day and cold hosed! Rest, rest and more rest but be positive as though its a long road, there are many success stories. Good luck!
PS When you go back to the vet, take a list with all your questions - it helps when your mind goes blank and your having an information overload!!
 
Thank you for that it was really helpful.

Thing is though, yesterday after the vet had been some other people on our yard mentioned that the leg wasn't bandaged. After looking on the net today I noticed all mentioning bandaging the leg so I thought with me being in a state yesterday that I had not heard him and I should have the leg bandaged. I rang him and he said not to bandage it.

Anyway I have been cold hosing it today on and off and am going back later. He has weight on it but he is full of anti-inflammatories and I have been putting that tendon gel on as instructed.

The vet is back on Tuesday to scan it and I should know more then.

My friends have said the same as you, to look on the bright side, at least it is winter and by spring all should be well. Fingers crossed. xx
 
My horse had a very large tear in his DDFT 2 years ago. My vet recommended alternate hot and cold treatment (I used thermal wraps and coolsport boots) from the outset. He was on total box rest for 5 days and then began walking out in hand, starting with 2 min twice a day. For the first week he was also on bute. We built up the hand walking by 2 min a week until we eventually managed an hour a day (believe me, it made me fit!) Also he had four once a week injections of Cartrophen, MSM supplement in his feed and short sessions in magnetic boots. After that we started ridden walk at 10 min twice a day and monitoring with scans. This was built up by adding 4 mim per week until we got to an hour at which point we attempted controlled short canters and short scooling sessions. He is now totally sound and back competing at affiliated dressage, but it was along haul, athough well worth it. He has very lttle in the way of visible signs of past tendon injury, so I would say be guided by your vet. Mine was great.
 
Can I just point out here that a DDFT injury is different to a SFFT. The SFFT is the main tendon that is the one we normally associate with bowing hence the need to control swelling. If you vet has said not to bandage, you may not be looking at a SFFT injury...the DDFT is generally a more serious injury and Ive not handled one of those myself so I have no idea whether banadaging is required.

Good luck by the way!
 
keep icing it, keep the horse as quiet as possible. i was advised by my vet to bandage a tail bandage under the heel to take strain off the tendons, (just bandage around hoof, as if doing a poultice), might be worth asking about that. keep bed very deep so he's encouraged to take weight off legs.
unfortunately i have a lot of experience of tendon injuries.
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don't bandage horse for travelling prior to scans (if you're taking horse to be scanned rather than machine being brought to you) as legs need to be normal temperature etc, and prior bandaging can influence the scan pics.
Given enough time and patience, depending on cause and extent of original injury, they can recover 99%. a damaged tendon is never as strong as the original tendon was, though.
Adequan injections into the lesion might be recommended. Cold water spas are also very very effective, apparently.
 
Thanks. Have just been told that the scanner has been sent off to be fixed. So are ringing me when get it back and it will be later in the week. Been told to stop cold hosing and to keep on with the gel and painkillers.
 
tbh it is a bit better for it to be scanned a few days later, my vet (one of the top tendon guys in the country) won't scan immediately after an injury, waits at least 3-4 days iirc.
very best of luck with it, hope it's just a minor lesion. was it a pull or a bang that caused it, just out of interest?
 
Are you sure youve heard the diagnosis correctly ? Ive never heard of a tendon injury that should not be supported or kept cold during the acute phases.....

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I rehabilitate injured race horses so Ive seen a fair few...
Ofcourse you should always follow a vets advice but this seems pretty strange to me...
 
mrussell - I'm pretty sure that is what he said. It definitely began with an "s". I know I am hopeless. I have been on and off the phone with him. Is it possible I have heard wrong (it wouldn't surprise me).

It was caused by over stretching whilst we were out on a ride the other day. We were right at the end of the ride he had had such a great time. Bless him

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Know it well.... had lots of fatigue related injuries come to us!

Look, at the end of the day, your vet is giving you advice. As long as you are happy with that advice then thats fine. If you have doubts, have a ring round and see what other vets might advise (I use 3 vets but there is only one who I trust with tendon injuries).

Are you sure it wasnt soft tissue damage? or suspensory ligament ? I would ring back once youve got a clear head and write down what he tells you including the site of and expected extent of the injury (although I would say that he would be guessing if it is a tendon/ligament strain).

Treatment in the acute stages in paramount to successful healing.

No one on here can give you as good advice as your vet but dont be afraid to ask for another opinion from a 2nd vet.
 
Hi there,

Unfortunately I am in exactly the same position as you although mine happened 4 weeks ago (almost). I had it scanned the day after injury and had 1 week of cold wrapping and hosing with 24 hour bandaging (box rest of course). This really took the swelling down quite quickly, not sure how serious yours is looking in comparison but I would definately bandage with good soft pads around the tendon.
I am due to take her for another scan tomorrow and currently am optomistic as it looks good but my vet told me to not loose hope if it looks worse before it gets better. She said that if you have swelling in the middle of the tendon naturally the fibres around the point of swelling will have to swell also to make room for it.
Initially the Vet told me defo 4-6 weeks box rest then all being well limited turn out and start walking.
I have been told about a drug that you can use that is injected into the tendon to help repair (cant remember the name), apparently the vets do not offer it in milder cases as it is expensive but I have been recommeded it. My Vet said not to do it until we see the second scan, apparently makes no difference if you do it staight away or later on in the injury.

I hope that it goes ok for you, although it will seem like the end of the world for the meantime people have told me of all tendon injuries you can have swelling on the superficial is one of the better ones to have (if that makes sense).

One thing to be aware of, I ws using cooling gel under bandages on the Vets advise and unfortunately my silly mare had a reaction to the gel which has given her a mud fever like issue. Watch out for it as its hard to tell whether the tendon is swollen for the injury itself or just the skin raising!! Its driven me mad not knowing!

Please keep us posted how you get on!
 
Hiya Kelly

Thanks for that. Have just rung the vets and am waiting for him to call back to explain why I am not having to bandage it and why no more cold hosing is required? Am totally confused as everyone is saying the opposite to what my vet is
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Anyway, I hope your girl is OK and keep me informed. PM me if you prefer.

thanks again xx
 
Just read all your posts and you have all the advice you need .
On a positive side my horse has just recovered from tendon injury after 13 weeks and has complete all clear.Although i wont consider any jumping for at least another 2 to 3 months just to be safe.Its not all negative with the right care he can come back sound.Good luck
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