Tendon injuries

[oofadoofa]

Hi, just wondering if any of you had any experience of superficial digital flexor tendon injuries, how long your horses had to have off etc. The vet said 1 months box rest, then 5 months out in the field. Is this realistic? I actually gave him over 2 months box rest before turning him out.

 

[RachelB]

More time is generally better in that sort of circumstance (where vet advises field rest), but generally not when the vet advises controlled exercise before turnout (as they usually do with SDFT injuries). I'd be interested to know how severe the injury was, for your vet to have advised turnout before exercise?
Generally tendons heal within one to two years, and generally for a small SDFT tear you would be looking at nine months minimum to return to any sort of proper work (cantering etc). Obviously it depends on the individual horse and injury though

 

[Smurphy]

My boy has been on box rest since the 29th March with the same injury, i was told a lest a year off work , im hoping to get the all clear to turnout night week. he has been hand walked and been on the walker

How did deal you with turning yours out for the first time? Im sorry worried he will go mad and injure himself again.

 

[oofadoofa]

Thanks. He broke down racing and wasn't actually that lame. There was initially quite a bit of heat and a slight bow. But it is looking quite good and straight again now, although can be a little puffy on a hot day.

 

[oofadoofa]

Mine did his back in February. He was so chilled out though, I was able to let him wander around a very small grass area outside his stable and when I did turn him out he just put his head down and ate! How is yours with his box rest? Maybe you could use some sedoline or something?

 

[Smurphy]

He has been coping brillantly woth box rest, ive been so lucky, Im planning on sedating him and holding my breath for the first time, but it will be in small paddock so he cant do to much much damage i suppose.

 

[RachelB]

I suggest small paddocks (some on here have suggested the very good idea of very small, interlinking paddocks - about six - so they can't run around), and sedation for both horse and owner!!

 

[kerilli]

have you turned him out yet? i have a lot of experience of this, unfortunately.
the longer you can give it the better. also, don't believe what your hands and eyes tell you... i've seen great-looking and feeling tendons scan badly, and vice-versa.
be very conservative. if you haven't turned him out yet, make it a tiny patch of grass. better to keep moving elec fence than to have him hooley around and damage it again.
from bitter personal experience (all under vet supervision), if you can give it 18 months, your horse is much much more likely to stand up to proper work at the end of it. a year is not enough.

best of luck.

 

[cellie]

[ QUOTE ]
I suggest small paddocks (some on here have suggested the very good idea of very small, interlinking paddocks - about six - so they can't run around), and sedation for both horse and owner!!

[/ QUOTE ]
That was me and Im back using them again for splints lol.My vet said as long as movement was restrictive and they couldnt go silly tendons heal alot better with some excercise.I didnt get a problem with proper turnout because I hadnt taken it completely away.I was lucky my horse had 10% tear but it could easily have got worse without the restrictions.