Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with severe lameness in left shoulder - how surgery helped
By Marques, Guilherme F et al.·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2026·Department of Large Animal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive, biceps brachii tenotomy in a standing horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 17-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse was suffering from severe lameness in the left shoulder due to tendon and joint issues. After trying conservative treatments without success, the veterinarian performed a minimally invasive surgery to cut the affected tendon while the horse was standing. Following the surgery, the horse showed significant improvement in lameness and continued to receive pain management and physiotherapy. After 21 months, the horse was able to move comfortably in the pasture without any complications from the surgery.
People also search for: horse shoulder lameness treatment · minimally invasive surgery for horse · biceps tendon injury in horses
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the long-term outcome of a horse that underwent a standing, ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive, biceps brachii tenotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMAL: A 17-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding. METHODS: The horse had a chronic, severe, lameness localized to the left shoulder region. Diagnostic imaging revealed fractures of the intermediate and lesser tubercles of the left humerus, biceps brachii (BB) tendinopathy, and bicipital bursitis. Conservative management was attempted, but lack of improvement prompted surgical intervention. An ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive, BB tenotomy was performed under standing sedation and local anesthesia. RESULTS: Immediately following the procedure, a substantial improvement in lameness was achieved. Further case management consisted of systemic and local pain management, physiotherapy exercises, and periodic local corticosteroid injections. At 21 months following surgery, the horse remained pasture sound. CONCLUSION: An ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive, approach for biceps brachii tenotomy was simple to perform and resulted in rapid improvement in lameness. There were no incisional complications and long-term pasture soundness was achieved.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40931893/