Injuries of the Flexor Tendons: Focus on the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon

Of the two flexor tendons in horses’ lower limbs, the superficial digital flexor tendon is more commonly injured than the deep digital flexor tendon. Flexor tendon injuries are caused by either overstrain of the tendon or direct trauma. Overstrain injuries have a typical swelling of the tendon that requires ultrasonographic evaluation to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment of these injuries includes anti-inflammatory therapy initially followed by a rehabilitation program. New therapies are emerging for modulating healing of these injuries. Flexor tendon lacerations are usually the result of direct penetrating trauma to the limb. Management of these injuries includes surgical management combined with appropriate coaptation. Involvement of a tendon sheath complicates management with the potential formation of septic tenosynovitis. The prognosis for returning successfully to athletic function in the case of overstrain injuries is fair, but re-injury is common, and for tendon lacerations, it is guarded to poor.