Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Comminuted fracture of the distal sesamoid bone and distal rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon.
- Journal:
- Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
- Year:
- 2005
- Authors:
- Hoegaerts, Michel et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old show jumper horse was brought in because it suddenly became very lame in its right front leg. The horse was unable to put weight on that leg properly, and it looked like the tendon that helps flex the toe was torn. X-rays showed a serious erosion and a fracture in a bone near the hoof, and an ultrasound confirmed the tendon was indeed ruptured. The horse had previously received steroid injections in the area, which might have contributed to the tendon injury. The findings were also confirmed after the horse passed away.
Abstract
A 10-year-old show jumper was evaluated for an acute severe lameness (grade 4 of 5) of the right foreleg. During weight bearing, the toe of the affected limb rotated dorsally suggesting rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Upon radiographic examination of the hoof, a severe erosion at the flexor surface and a parasagittal fracture of the distal sesamoid bone were found. Ultrasonographic examination confirmed rupture of the DDFT. These findings were confirmed on post-mortem examination. Prior to the acute lameness, the horse was treated with corticosteroid injections into the podotrochlear bursa. Repeated intra-bursal injections of corticosteroids as a possible cause for DDFT rupture are discussed as well as the possible association between a degenerative distal sesamoid bone, a distal sesamoid bone fracture and a DDFT rupture.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16050282/