DIGITAL EXTENSOR TENDON LACERATIONS IN HORSES - A RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF 22 CASES

Hospital records of 22 horses referred to the Royal Veterinary and Agr icultural University (RVAU) of Copenhagen between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1993 for treatment of digital extensor tendon lacerations were reviewed, and follow-up information on final outcome was collect ed to determine whether any injury or treatment factors could be assoc iated with the outcome. Mean age of the horses was 5.2 years (range, 1 to 20 years), and follow-up time ranged from 1 to 5 years after injur y, In 21 (95 %) of the horses, injury involved the hind limbs. Eleven (50 %) horses returned to their original or intended level of use, Eig hteen (82 %) horses had no signs of lameness. There was no statistical ly significant correlation between outcome and elapsed time from injur y to treatment, type of injury, treatment variables, or wound healing in the present study, and these findings support previous reports. It was concluded that horses with digital extensor tendon lacerations had a favorable prognosis for return to riding soundness and a fair progn osis for return to their original or intended level of use. Tendon sut uring and primary wound healing did not improve the prognosis.