Tendon terror!

J

Jazzyy

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My sisters horse has damaged either the superficial digital flexor tendon or the deep digital flexor tendon. It is swollen, warm and sensitive. Is there any other remedies that can be used? Apart from box rest, ice pack and cold hosing.
Thanks x
 
Nope! Well yes but you need to discuss it with your vet. Give it 7-10days of box rest and cold hosing as many times a day as you can, or packing it with ice either which way works, and then get your vet out to scan the leg. No point in scanning it before then as there is too much swelling and the full damage is yet to be done. After about 10days you will know what you are dealing with. You do need to get it scanned though to see the extent of the damage as this will give you a guide as to what you can do with the horse and how you treat it. The horse will also need at least a good thick stable bandage on for support whilst hosing/icing. After the scan the vet will likely put on a 3layer Robert Jones.

If the fetlock is dropping then get the vet out asap to show you how to put on a 3 layer RJ with the proper support for the fetlock.
 
Totally agree, the only way to assess injuries to tendons are by an ultrasound scan. Agree this should only be done at least 7 days after injury as you will likely not see the extent of the damage initially. Depending on the type of injury, and what is injured, many therapies exist. Ranging from bandaging and rest and cold therapy to stem cells and adequan injections for the best outcome in some cases....Prognosis would depend on type of injury, extent of injury and also what the horse is intended for.....Good luck!
 
get the vet out, my 2yo looked to have done her tendon, vet was called, she had it scanned and 2 vets from 2 different practices were slightly stumped ended up she had an infected tendon sheath 4 ops later we got her home
so don't wait to call the vet, i too thought she had done the tendon and was just very sore on it, i had never seen an infected tendon sheath before, what got us all was there was no wound so no one thought about it:eek:
 
An ice cup is more effective than ice packs or cold hosing after the initial cold hosing period. Just fill a polystyrene cup with water, freeze it and put the end of the cup i.e open end over horses injury and move in slow circular motion. As ice melts peel polystyrene away to expose more ice and continue for 20 mins or so. Make sure you keep the cup moving over the leg or you could give your horse ice burns. This is more effective than cold hosing long term as the ice is a constant cold temperature.

Do get it scanned. My horse slightly sprained his lateral suspensory branch in June 2011 and is on a guarded to good prognosis for return to jumping and a good prognosis for non jumping activities. Its taken him 10 - 11 months to come back to jumping small 2ft 3 courses of jumps and it is a case of 'seeing what happens'. He has a 40% chance of the injury re-occurring, so it is up to me to be extremely vigilant with checking his legs before and after exercise, slowly building up the level of work, ensuring surfaces are always good, never working him when he is tired (as this is when injury is likley to happen) and reacting very quickly and correctly at the slightest swelling/heat. He has a recheck this Friday with the vet and is seen regularly with the physio.
 
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You might also need anti inflamataries. There are also new stem cell theraphys that can be considered. Mine ruptured his sdft on 15 May 2011, he has come sound but it took 6 months box rest and then a long time walking hand and restricted turnout to get here. Times the greatest healer.
 
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