STRINGHALT SECONDARY TO TRAUMA TO THE DORSOPROXIMAL REGION OF THE METATARSUS IN HORSES - 10 CASES (1986-1991)

A review of medical records was used to identify 10 horses in which st ringhalt developed subsequent to trauma to the dorsal metatarsus. Six horses developed stringhalt within 3 months after injury, 3 horses dev eloped stringhalt > 3 months after injury, and time from injury to str inghalt was unknown for 1 horse. Horses were treated with exercise, in cluding daily hand-walking with pasture turnout, followed by lunging; or surgically, wing lateral digital extensor myotenectomy. Of the hors es treated with exercise, 1 had resolution of stringhalt, 2 improved b ut had residual stringhalt, and 1 had no change. Two of the horses hav ing lateral digital extensor myotenectomy had resolution of stringhalt . Two of the remaining 3 horses treated surgically had varying degrees of improvement, and in 1 horse there was no change. Stringhalt is a p otential complication following trauma to the dorsal metatarsal region . Potential causes include tendon adhesions enhancing tarsocrural join t flexion or abnormalities in the myotatic reflex caused by tendon inj ury that result in abnormal flexion of the tarsocrural joint.