SUPERIOR CHECK LIGAMENT DESMOTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC SUPERFICIAL DIGITAL FLEXOR TENDINITIS IN HORSES.

Abstract

Bilateral check ligament desmotomies were performed on 7 horses (2 males and 5 females)
that had been suffering from either, unilateral or bilateral, chronic, superficial digital flexor tendinitis,for 3-10 months. Healing was uneventful in all cases. Eight to twelve months postoperatively, all horses returned to racing with no subsequent injury to the previously affected tendons. However, typical, palpable, fibrotic enlargement remained within the palmar aspect of the superficial digital flexor tendons of all the horses.