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  Discussion on Contracted tendons on all four feet
Author Message
Member:
Echoval

Posted on Monday, Sep 18, 2006 - 2:39 pm:

I have a 14month old gelding that was born with contracted tendons on all four feet he has had the oxytetracycline given IV and was splinted in front He still has problems with one of the front legs he can walk ok and canter but is oochie at a trot My question is is their surgery for this and what is the out come. he is very straight in the pastern on this leg will it come down as he grows from his weight.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 - 7:33 am:

Yes, both medical therapy and surgery is described in the article Patricia. Your case sounds most like a superficial flexor contracture and may require a superior check ligament desmotomy though this will be to be verified by exam. The prognosis will depend on the severity of the condition and how long it has gone on. If your horse is not too bad the chance surgery will help is fair to good. The older age and that the horse is lame are prognostic negatives however. Once a thorough exam is given a more accurate prognosis should be available.
DrO
Member:
Echoval

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 - 2:14 pm:

What is a ligament desmotomy ? do they cut the tendon ? and what do you mean by therapy after or before surgery ? he was born not being able to walk so he has been getting better all the time.the farrier keeps triming his heels down.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 - 6:37 pm:

If the horse is continuing to improve I am uncertain surgery is needed though this has been going on 13 months.

Desmotomy is cutting a ligament. Both the superficial and deep flexor tendons have ligamentous (tendon to bone in this case) attachments to a bone that sort of "tie in" the tendon. Sometimes they are the cause of the flexural deformity and cutting them almost always gives the tendon a bit more length. I am uncertain about the therapy question Patricia as I don't see the reference in my post and there is a lot of therapy discussed in the article.

Two suggestions Patricia. When you run into a term you don't understand there is a medical dictionary on this site under "References on the navigation frame on the left". And when posting you should always use proper punctuation and capitalization, it makes reading your post much easier. However I greatly appreciate your brevity.
DrO
Member:
Echoval

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 19, 2006 - 8:24 pm:

Well DrO I looked on your reference sight could not find anything on Desmotomy I guess I"M to stupid to use your sight I won"t bother you again
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 - 9:06 am:

I am sorry if I hurt your feelings Patricia, that certainly was not my intent. I am trying to find ways to get your questions answered quicker and get you more replies. Using the dictionary you will not have to wait for a reply. Using proper punctuation and capitalization will get you more responses as some folks won't read difficult to read posts.

I can help with the dictionary but the periods are up to you. This is how you find the dictionary: place your cursor over the "References" on the navigation frame on the left. A list will DrOp down and at the bottom is "Medical Dictionary". Click on it and the dictionary will come up in this window. Select "D" then go through the words until you get to desmotomy. You will find the definition there.
DrO
Member:
Frances

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 - 9:31 am:

Actually I had a look, and I can't find desmotomy either - should be after "desmoteric medicine" I would think.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006 - 3:43 pm:

That is exactly where it should appear. Apparently I am not smart enough to use my site either LL. Largest medical dictionary on the internet and I manage to find a word that has apparently been overlooked as this is a common medical term. I submitted the word to the cancer web that sponsors the dictionary. Hopefully they will get it added and thanks for the heads up. Along with the price of Spot-On I think this is my second mistake this week and there are 3 days to go, I need to be more careful.
DrO
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