ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION AND LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF FLEXOR TENDONITIS DESMITIS IN THE METACARPAL/METATARSAL REGION IN DUTCH WARMBLOOD HORSES AND STANDARD-BRED RACEHORSES/

Over a 2 year-period, the ultrasonographic localization and distributi on of flexor tendinous and ligamentous injuries, the long-term follow- up, and the outcome were studied in 101 Dutch Warmblood horses (DW) wi th a mean age of 8.7 years and in 71 Standardbred racehorses (ST) with a mean age of 5.2 years. The ratio between forelimb and hind limb fle xor tendonitis/desmitis in the DW-group was 4:1 and in the ST-group 4: 3. In the DW-group, tendonitis/desmitis of the suspensory ligament (32 %), the superficial digital flexor tendon (29%), the distal carpal che ck ligament (17%) of the forelimb (SLf, SDFf, and CL, respectively) an d the suspensory ligament (11%) of the hind limb (SLh) occured the mos t often. In the ST-group, tendonitis of the SDFf (34%) and desmitis of the SLh (34%) and SLf (18%) were the most common injuries. Of the 60 Dutch Warmblood horses available for followup, 25% showed full-functio nal recovery. Of the 61 Standardbreds available for follow-up, 18% sho wed full-functional recovery. Overall, local axial lesions seemed to h ave a worse prognosis than local abaxial or diffusive lesions.