TRANSECTION OF THE ACCESSORY LIGAMENT OF THE SUPERFICIAL DIGITAL FLEXOR MUSCLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SUPERFICIAL DIGITAL FLEXOR TENDINITIS IN STANDARD-BREDS - 40 CASES (1988-1992)

Medical records of 40 racing Standard-breds with superficial digital f lexor tendinitis that underwent transection of the accessory ligament of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) muscle (superior check desmoto my) were reviewed. Surgery was performed bilaterally in 32 horses and unilaterally in 8. Concurrent palmar annular desmotomy was performed i n 8 horses in which tendinitis involved the distal metacarpal region a nd confinement of the deep and SDF tendons by the annular ligament was suspected. Follow-up information was obtained for 32 houses, by telep hone, and racing results were available for 39 horses (1 horse is curr ently in training, but had a qualifying race prior to surgery). Tendin itis recurred in 8 of 32 (25%) horses that returned to training. Thirt y-five of 38 (92%) horses started at least 1 race after surgery. Mean +/- SD time between surgery and first race was 237 +/- 86 days. Overal l, 33 of 38 horses completed 5 or move laces after surgery, however, S DF tendinitis recurred in 6, and treatment was, therefore, considered to be successful in 27 houses. Horses started a median of 18 races aft er surgery. Median amount of money won per start after surgery (median , $418; range, $0 to $4,626) was significantly less than median amount won per start before surgery (median, $1,155; range, $0 to $14,603). Inflammation of the interosseous muscle (suspensory ligament) develope d in 5 horses with bilateral sop tendinitis and in 2 horses with unila teral SDF tendinitis. All horses with inflammation of the interosseous muscle had undergone bilateral superior check desmotomy.