This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Flexor Tendinitis »
  Discussion on Torn flexor tendon sheath
Author Message

Posted on Thursday, Dec 13, 2001 - 11:10 am:

My 3yo (4 in March) Oldenburg was just diagnosed with a (slightly) torn flexor tendon sheath in his right hind. I noticed the swelling and heat Sunday, and hosed it several times over the course of Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. He was not (and still isn't) lame at the walk or trot. Monday the swelling was down some, and the heat, which I describe as hot on Sunday, was warm Monday as well. By Tuesday however it wasn't any better than Monday, so I had my vet out yesterday (soonest she could come). She too saw no lameness, but noted that he was placing his foot to the outside a bit when putting it down. Because of a locking stifle issue she didn't want to stall rest him, so he's in a small pasture by himself for at least 2 months, with a daily painting of dmso/azium on the area for 14 treatments. In your experiences, do you have any feeling for prognisis as far as cosmetic swelling remaining, time to heal properly, and potential for reinjury in the near or distant future? I am not in any way doubting the diagnosis or the treatment, just looking for other experiences and opinions. Until Sunday, he was worked very lightly at the walk and trot for one or two times a week and was out 24x7.

Posted on Friday, Dec 14, 2001 - 6:26 am:

Hello Jordana,
Without seeing the injury it is difficult to prognosticate your case. However in general young horses with acutely swollen flexor tendon sheaths and no lameness do pretty well. With rest, pressure bandaging, and hand walking the prognosis for removing the majority of the swelling is good. I think just being out with out help from bandaging the leg will be less cosmetic but will still probably heal fine.

Time to heal varys so much in these cases that I don't try to predict but reevaluate the case every 3 weeks before decreasing bandaging/increasing the exercise.

The chance for further problems in the future goes up significantly but still remains small. Most do not have a furhter problem.

Presented at this years AAEP was a novel treatment for Upward Fixation, splitting the medial patellar ligament. It was currative in the 1/2 dozen cases presented in the report and as soon as I get this months newletter out will do a write up about it in the article.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 14, 2001 - 10:34 am:

Thanks Dr O. I'm curious about the bandaging, and will ask my vet as well - she didn't mention it. Would the dmso/azium on the leg preclude bandaging? And would this bandaging be a no-bow with a standing bandage - that sort of bandaging? I would like to do everything possible to reduce not only future injury but also blemishes if possible.

I look forward to the upward fixation article!!!

Posted on Saturday, Dec 15, 2001 - 6:28 am:

I don't think you would be able to gett he bandage snug enough with the horse turned out. DMSO will scurff some horses if the concentration is high enough. We are treating one right now with a 50% DMSO / azium combination under a pressure wrap with no problems.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Dec 17, 2001 - 7:24 pm:

I was afraid of that (the wrapping). Oh well. His new thing is that the swelling on the injury site has gone down to nearly normal, BUT there is now the same sort of swelling from about 1/3 of the way down the cannon bone up to his hock, all on the inside. He is still not lame, nor sore to the touch. This new swelling is just a touch warmer than the other leg. I spoke with my vet today and she isn't "Oh, I must see this now", so I'll wait and see if it goes away, stays the same, or gets better. Unfortunately we are having rain tonight, so I fear he will spend most of the night fairly stationary in his stall instead of moving around. We shall see!

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001 - 7:45 am:

I think if the swellling has responded so quickly and the fact that the new swelling looks similar, that a torn flexor sheath was unlikely, more likely a bruised area with most of the swelling a celluitis and not a capsulitis (synovitis). If the swelling is warm it should be very bute responsive, if lameness occurs it should be looked at quickly.
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 18, 2001 - 10:52 am:

Interesting. I am torn between buting him and not. The original reason for not putting him on bute was to keep him feeling a little "different" to reduce his chances of running around. Now I'm not so sure. Until I can talk to my vet again, is there any harm in giving him bute?

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2001 - 7:11 am:

If you are uncertain about what is happening, best would be to contact your vet, who has examined the horse.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC