Contracted Tendons

Doc-t April 24, 2020
2 Comments

Contraction of the superficial digital flexor tendons of the front limbs of a foal.

Musculoskeletal
Neonatal
System & disease topics

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Severely contracted SDFT in the hind limbs of this adult horse.
Severely contracted superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the hind limbs of this adult horse. This contraction causes the fetlock top pop forward. If it were the deep digital flexor tendon then the fetlock would be in a more normal position and the front of the hoof wall would be more vertical (club foot).
Severely contracted superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the hind limbs of this adult horse. This contraction causes the fetlock top pop forward. If it were the deep digital flexor tendon then the fetlock would be in a more normal position and the front of the hoof wall would be more vertical (club foot).
Severely contracted superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the hind limbs of this adult horse. This contraction causes the fetlock top pop forward. If it were the deep digital flexor tendon then the fetlock would be in a more normal position and the front of the hoof wall would be more vertical (club foot).
Severely contracted superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFT) in both front limbs of this foal. This contraction causes the fetlock to pop forward making the cannon and pastern almost a straight line. Also notice the knee is also popping forward – often the very first sign that the foal is growing too fast and a contraction is about to occur. There is also a hard bulging above the knee at the growth plate of the forearm (physis) which is called epiphysitis – another indicator of growing too fast.
Categories: Foal Systems, Musculoskeletal System

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    1. Doc-t July 28, 2024

      The words “contracted tendons” leads to misunderstanding the cause, which is a rapid growth of the bones. If addressed as it is occurring, the treatment is a dose of oxytetracycline. This antibiotic competes with calcium in the muscles causing relaxation, therefore, allowing for the stretching of the muscle-tendon-bone unit. The elimination of a “contracted tendon” is rapid, often within hours. However, once time has passed, the contraction, while reduced, becomes permanent, as in club foot.

      Please visit this replay: https://www.thehorsesadvocate.com/forums/discussion/upcoming-event-rounds-with-doc-t-sept-9th-2023-special-announcement/

      Advance to this mark: “42:45 – Contracted tendons in young horses. The actual cause of this and other developmental orthopedic diseases in growing horses.”

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