Page 104 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

100 LIMB SURGERIES

overlapping of and tension on the instruments

bring the DDFT to, but not out of, the incision.

The DDFT is then transected with a No. 10 blade

(Figure 16-7). If the distal check ligament is

present at the level of the incision, it is isolated

and transected with the DDFT. After transection,

the heel elevation can be removed to check for

adequate gap formation between the tendon ends.

Closure of the subcutaneous tissue is optional.

Closure of the skin is performed with an inter-

rupted apposing or everting pattern using No.

2-0 monofilament suture material.

POSTOPERATIVE CARE

PqstoP,erative Care

Bandaging: A sterile dressing is placed over the
Site of
:-1---
approach incision and a half limb bandage is applied. The

limb should remain bandaged for 30 days, and

the bandage is changed every 5 to 7 days or more

frequently if needed.

i
Exetcise Restridons: Horses with laminitis

should be rested as their condition indicates and

are not allowed significant turnout for a minimum

of 6 months. Foals with contracture can be allowed

turnout in a small area after 1 week, and the

amount of exercise allowed is gradually increased

Figure 16-5 Incision location for deep digital flexor over the next 60. days. Free choice turnout should

tenotomy. not be allowed for up to 6 months. 2

Medications: Phenylbutazone should be admin-

istered for a minimum of 5 days.
J '
Suture Reme>val: Skin sutures are removed 12

days postoperatively.

Other: Continued corrective shoeing is an essen-

tial component of treatment. Surgery should not

be performed without considerations for postop-

erative corrective trimming and shoeing. Prin-

ciples of shoeing to reestablish the normal

relationship between the solar surface of P3 and

the sole following deep digital flexor tenotorny

have been describedv' and are essential when

tenotomy is performed as a component of larnini-

tis treatment. Foals with severe flexural deformi-

ties should be trimmed in a normal fashion. The

need for corrective shoeing in these cases

depends on the amount of release achieved after

tenotomy.

Figure 16-6 Isolation of the deep digital flexor

tendon.