Decemer Case of the Month

Check out our Case of the Month from December!

This gelding tore his deep digital flexor tendon in his front right leg while on stall rest from a previous injury. His owner noticed that he was pointing his foot and favoring it a bit, but he was only minimally lame. When she brought him to us for examination the next day, he was very lame and his tendon sheath area was very hot and swollen. Upon ultrasound examination, a severe tear in his deep digital flexor tendon was found in the pastern. He was sent home on anti-inflammatories and discharge instructions:
- strict stall rest for 2 weeks
- ice right front for 20 minute twice daily for 5 days
- keep both front limbs in a standing wrap
- monitor for increased lameness or swelling
- apply a wedge shoe to the injured foot
A long term sedative was discussed with the owner as the gelding is more hot natured. It was decided to try him on Platinum Gentle (magnesium supplement). Some treatment options included: ACP (Autologous Condition Plasma) and shockwave therapy. He would return in 1 month for a recheck. A wedge shoe was placed on the affected foot. This allows pressure to be relieved from the deep digital flexor tendon to encourage healing with less tension. One month later at his recheck there was minimal change in the tear, but the swelling was much improved and he was not as lame as he was upon initial presentation. ACP was injected into the tear in the pastern to help promote healing (to learn more about ACP please visit: http://www.legacyequinehospital.blogspot.com/2014/09/new-treatments-available.html). A thick supportive bandage was placed on the limb and he was sent home with discharge instructions:
- Stall rest for 24 hours, then handwalk for 10 minutes once daily gradually working up to 40 minutes over a period of 6 weeks (straight lines only, no hard stops or sharp turns)
- ice right front for 15 minutes after handwalking
- monitor for any increased lameness or swelling
- reset wedge shoe every 6 weeks
- continue anti-inflammatories
He is expected to make a full recovery and return to his career of barrel racing

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