Fetlock annular ligament desmotomy: A report of 24 cases

Abstract

Restriction of free movement of the flexor tendons through the fetlock canal results in lameness. The commonest cause was chronic synovitis of the digital sheath. The condition is characterised by an unremitting lameness, synovial distenslon and a notch on the caudal aspect of the limb. The condition can be relieved by section of the annular ligament of the fetlock. In a series of 24 cases 16 horses returned to work with no recurrence of lameness, three cases were lost to follow up and five animals remained lame; three of these had intercurrent disease.who referred the cases to us. We are grateful to our colleagues annular ligament of the fetlock in the horse. Vet. Med. SmaN Anim. Mr (3. B. Edwards and Dr J. V. Davies for permission to Clin. 69, 327-329.report three of their cases.Verschooten, F. and De Moor, A. (1978) Tendonitis in the horse: its Referencesradiographic diagnosis with air tendograms. J. Am. vet. Radio/. Webbon. P. M. (1977) A Dost mortem studv of eouine digital flexor SOC. 19, 23-30. Adams, 0. R. (1974) Constriction of the palmar (volar) or plantar tendons. Equine ver. J . -9, 61-67. I ABSTRACT Surgery Effects of extensive resection of the small intestine in the pony TATE, L. P., RALSTON, S. L., KOCH, C. M. and EVERITT, J. I. (1983) Am. J. vet. Res. 44, 1187-1 191.

Palmar annular ligament desmitis in horses: retrospective study between desmotomy and desmectomy techniques

“…Possibly, the desmectomy allowed, besides the better visualization of the sur- gical field, a more efficient release and removal of adhesions between the SDFT, the PAL and the subcutaneous tissue. The effectiveness of the PAL desmotomy regarding the return to sports activity obtained in this study (63.64%) was similar to the results reported by Gerriing and Webon [9], with 66.6% success rate, Verschooten and Picavet [15], with 64% and McGhee et al [10], with 57 % of recovery. Moreover, the obtained data is lower than that reported by Cohen et al [4], with 71% return to sport.…”

“…As a consequence of the injury, it is possible to occur the distension of the flexor tendons sheath and the indirect volume increase of the tendons. Concomitantly, the PAL, that do not adapt somewhat to pathological changes, compresses the tendons and adjacent structures, which creates a restriction of movement and eventually can develop a local inflammatory reaction [9,11,15].…”

Palmar annular ligament desmotomy in horses with the Arthrex-Centerline™ : An <i>ex-vivo</i> study

“…The tenoscopy definitely offers the advantage of better visualization within the operative field, a better diagnosis and a reduction in both the surgical wound and risks of complications (Nixon et al, 1993;Barr et al, 1995;Dik et al, 1995;Wright and McMahon, 1999). Since the advent of tenoscopy, reported cases of tendon fistulas and post-operative infections compared to those reported in the use of the open technique are definitely less frequent (Gerring and Webbon, 1984;Wright and McMahon, 1999). Another method of the PAL desmotomy consists of the use of a slotted cannula and a scalpel blade rotated 90° (Nixon et al, 1993).…”

“…The desmopathy of the palmar annular ligament (PAL) has been described in several different conditions in the horse (Gerring and Webbon, 1984;Dik et al, 1995;van den Berg et al, 1995;Wilderjans et al, 2003). The PAL syndrome is characterized by constriction and thickening of the flexor sheath with a relatively normal appearance of the PAL.…”

“…An increase in the volume of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) may be due to a lesion within the superficial flexor tendon, the manica flexoria or tenosynovitis of the synovial sheath of the flexor tendons (Dik et al, 1995;van den Berg et al, 1995;Smith and Wright, 2006). The classic presentation of the disease is characterized by lameness associated with the fetlock bowed at the level of PAL (Gerring and Webbon, 1984;Smith and Wright, 2006) and the proximal edge of the DFTS. Injury to the PAL has been described in the literature as plantar/palmar annular desmitis (PADs) and is due to a thickening of the annular ligament (McGhee et al, 2005).…”