Page 102 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

CHAPTER 16

Deep Digital Flexor Tenotomy

Joanne Kramer

INDICATIONS POSITIONING AND PREPARATION

Severe distal interphalangeal joint contracture or The procedure is most often performed with the

severe laminitis with rotation of the third phalanx horse standing in adult horses with laminitis and

(P3) (Figures 16-1 and 16-2). recumbent in foals with severe deep digital flexor

tendon (DDFT) contracture. Whe11 performed

with the horse standing, heel wedges are tem-

EQUIPMENT porarily placed on the horse to take tension off the

DDFT during the procedure. A high palmar-

A heel wedge is used during standing procedures. palmar metacarpal nerve block or inverted-LI

Modified table knives or malleable retractors are block is performed in the proximal metacarpal

useful when isolating the tendon during transec- region. The limb is clipped circumferentially and

1
tion (Figure 16-3). prepared for aseptic surgery in the mid metacarpal

region, A sterile adhesive drape or short drapes

proximal and distal to the site are used.

Figure 16-1 Severe deep digital flexor tendon Figure 16-2 Laminitis with rotation of the third

contracture. phalanx.

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