SUPERIOR CHECK LIGAMENT DESMOTOMY FOR TREATMENT OF SUPERFICIAL DIGITAL FLEXOR TENDINITIS IN THOROUGHBRED AND STANDARD-BRED HORSES

Bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy was performed on 31 Thorou ghbred and 17 Standardbred horses as the sole method of treatment for superficial digital flexor tendonitis. Horses resumed racing between 6 and 19 months after surgery. Horses that were able to compete in 5 or more races without injury to the tendon again were considered to have had a successful return to racing. Twenty-five Thoroughbreds were sui table for later study and 13 of these (52%) raced on 5 or more occasio ns. Fifteen Standardbreds were suitable for later study and 10 of thes e (66%) raced on 5 or more occasions. Within the racing industry it is generally thought that about 20 to 30% of horses with superficial dig ital flexor tendonitis can return to racing after a prolonged rest. Th e results of this study suggest that bilateral superior check ligament desmotomy may improve the prognosis for a horse returning to racing a fter injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon.