Page 78 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

7 4 LIMB SURGERIES

b'

A c

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B

D

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Figure 11-3 A, A 3-cm incision is made directly over the palpable lateral digital extensor tendon just proximal to

its junction with the long digital extensor tendon (a). A second 10-cm vertical skin incision is made directly over the

lateral digital extensor starting at the muscle-tendon junction and extending proximally (b). B, The lateral digital

extensor tendon is excised in the distal incision. C, The entire tendon is pulled through the proximal incision. D, The

muscle is severed in the proximal portion of the incision so that at least 2 cm of muscle is removed.

POSTOPERATIVE CARE surgery are variable and cannot be predicted.

Improvement, when present, may occur in the

Postoperative ~re immediate postoperative period or days to

1nonths after the surgery. 2

Bandaging: A sterile dressing is placed over the

incisions and a full limb bandage is placed from

the proximal tibia distally. The bandage is changed COMPLICATIONS

as needed every 2 to 4 days and maintained until

the incisions have healed.

Exercise Restridions: Stall rest is required for Dehiscence of the incision may occur, especially if

2 weeks and followed by small area turnout for 2 a stringhalt gait persists in the early postoperative

weeks. period. Seroma or hematoma formation associ-

Medications: Phenylbutazone is administered at ated with the stump of the lateral digital extensor

4.4 mg/kg BID for 24 hours. muscle may also occur.

Suture Removal: Skin sutures are removed 12

days postoperatively.

COMMENTS

EXPECTED OUTCOME Stringhalt is a gait abnormality characterized by

exaggerated hyperflexion of one or both hind

Although positive results from the surgery are limbs. Several forms have been described. The

often dramatic and very rewarding, owners Australian, or outbreak, form of stringhalt is bilat-

should be forewarned that the results of the eral, occurs in groups of horses on pasture, and is