SAEVA Congress 2018 Proceedings | 12-15 February 2018 | ATKV Goudini Spa
Core injuries are the most common type of injury detected ultrasonographically,
followed by peripheral injuries to the branch or injuries at the origin of the branch in
P1A. Complete ruptures or near complete ruptures of the branches also occur and can
result in the SDFT slipping off to one side of the palmar or plantar aspect of the
metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint. The medial branch of the superficial digital flexor
tendon appears to be more frequently injured than the lateral branch. Peritendinous
soft tissue swelling is common as is thickening of the digital sheath and a concurrent
digital sheath tenosynovitis. Avulsion fracture of the insertion of the branch of the
superficial digital flexor tendon occurs infrequently.
Acute core lesion in lateral branch of SDFT
Deep digital flexor tendon
Injuries to the DDFT in the pastern occur in a variety of competition horses. The
lameness detected is often acute, severe and persistent. DDFT injuries are usually
associated with digital sheath tenosynovitis. If the DDFT tendinitis is associated with
chronic digital sheath tenosynovitis and calcification of the DDFT, or the injury is large
and extensive, a guarded to poor prognosis for return to performance is indicated.
The DDFT has an oval to bilobed appearance in the pastern. The two lobes should
be symmetrical in size and shape. The fibers of the DDFT extend obliquely from a
deeper to a more superficial position in the more distal portion of the pastern and are
separated from the SDSL by an anechoic space. The dorsopalmar thickness and
lateral to medial width of the deep digital flexor tendon decrease somewhat distally in
the mid pastern and then increase again in the distal pastern. The DDFT measures 5
- 10 mm in a palmar - to - dorsal direction in the proximal pastern, slightly less in the
mid pastern and 7 - 12 mm in the distal pastern region. Its width in a lateral - to -
medial direction ranged from 18 - 33 mm in the proximal pastern, decreasing to 15 -
23 mm in the mid pastern and increasing in the distal pastern to 23 - 32 mm. Along
the dorsal aspect of the deep digital flexor tendon in the mid pastern region is a
synovial fold of the digital sheath, which is readily imaged, surrounded by a small
amount of the anechoic synovial fluid contained within the digital sheath. In the distal
pastern region along proximal P2, the palmar aspect of the deep digital flexor tendon
is adhered to the synovial membrane of the digital sheath.
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