Page 340 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• strain of the plantar ligament with swelling of the surrounding tissues

• injury to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) with associated soft tissue swelling
VetBooks.ir • injury to the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) with associated soft tissue swelling; this

is not common and affected horses experience severe swelling and lameness

• swelling of the soft tissues of the region with no apparent injury of the plantar ligament,
the SDFT or the DDFT

• infection of the soft tissues around the above ligament and tendons

• some horses have a prominent head of the fourth metatarsal (lateral splint) bone; this is
known as a ‘false curb’ and can be differentiated from a true curb by careful palpation or

radiography.

Figure 7.12 Position of the plantar ligament of the hock