Introduction

• Injuries to the flexor tendons are common in the performance horse.
• Diagnostic ultrasonography   Ultrasonography: overview    Ultrasonography: overview    Ultrasonography: bone / joints  can detect early signs of injury and is used to monitor the effects of treatment and healing.

Uses

• Diagnosis and monitoring of disease of the flexor tendinous structures:
  • Superficial digital flexor tendinitis   SDFT: tendinitis  .
  • Deep digital flexor tenosynovitis   Tarsus: tarsal sheath tenosynovitis  .
  • Deep digital flexor rupture.
  • Proximal suspensory ligament desmitis   Suspensory ligament: desmitis - proximal  .
  • Midbody and branch suspensory ligament desmitis   Suspensory ligament: desmitis - midbody  .
  • Plantar ligament desmitis   Tarsus: desmitis - plantar ligament  .
  • Distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis   Straight sesamoidean ligament: desmitis  .
  • Distal sesamoidean ligament rupture.
  • Inferior check ligament desmitis   Accessory ligament DDFT: forelimb - desmitis  .
  • Carpal sheath tenosynovitis   Carpus: sheath tenosynovitis  .
  • Digital sheath tenosynovitis   Digital sheath: tenosynovitis  .

Advantages

• Adaptable.
• Portable.
• Not expensive.
• Safe.
• Non-invasive, pain free.

Disadvantages

• Evaluates soft tissues and some superficial bone only.

Requirements

Preparation

Procedure

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Coudry V & Denoix J M (2013) Ultrasonographic examination of the palmar aspect of the pastern of the horse: digital flexor tendons and digital sheath. Equine Vet Educ 25 (4), 196-203.
• Ramzan P H L, Palmer L, Dallas R S & Shepherd M C (2013) Subclinical ultrasonographic abnormalities of the suspensory ligament branch of the athletic horse: A survey of 60 Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 45 (2), 159-163 PubMed.
• Zauscher J M, Estrada R, Edinger J & Lischer C J (2013) The proximal aspect of the suspensory ligament in the horse: How precise are ultrasonographic measurements? Equine Vet J 45 (2), 164-169 PubMed.
• Denoix J M et al (2011) Ultrasonographic examination of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses. Part B: Abnormal findings and lesions. Equine Vet Educ 23 (12), 616-625.
• Seignour M, Pasquet H, Coudry V & Denoix J-M (2011) Ultrasonographic diagnosis of injuries to the deep digital flexor tendon and associated structures in the equine foot (suprasesamoidean area). Equine Vet Educ 23 (7), 369-376.
• Avella C S et al (2009) Ultrasonographic assessment of the superficial digital flexor tendon on National Hunt racehorses in training over two racing seasons. Equine Vet J 41 (5), 449-545 PubMed.
• Pickersgill C H, Marr C M & Reid S W J (2001) Repeatability of diagnostic ultrasonography on the assessment of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon. Equine Vet J 33 (1), 33-37 PubMed.
• Denoix J M & Busoni V (1999) Ultrasonographic anatomy of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor tendon in horses. Equine Vet Educ 31 (3), 186-191 PubMed.
• Dik K J, Van den Belt A J M & Keg P R (1991) Ultrasonographic evaluation of fetlock annular ligament constriction in the horse. Equine Vet J 23 (4), 285-288 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Rantanen N & McKinnon A (1998) Equine Diagnostic Ultrasonography. 1st edn. Williams & Wilkins, USA. ISBN 0-683-07123-8.
• Reef V B (1998) Equine Diagnostic Ultrasound. 1st edn. W B Saunders, USA. ISBN 0-7216-5023-6.
• Nyland T G & Mattoon J S (1995) Veterinary Diagnostic Ultrasound. Saunders.
• Hodgson D R & Rose R R (1994) Eds. The Athletic Horse - Principles and Practice of Equine Sports Medicine. W B Saunders, USA.