Comparison of healing in forelimb and hindlimb surgically induced core lesions of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon

R. J. Estrada; P. R. Van Weeren; C. H. A. Van de Lest; J. Boere; M. Reyes; J. C. Ionita; M. Estrada; C. J. Lischer

doi:10.3415/VCOT-13-11-0136

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27(05): 358-365
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-13-11-0136

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Comparison of healing in forelimb and hindlimb surgically induced core lesions of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon

Authors

R. J. Estrada

¹Equine Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

²Large Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
P. R. Van Weeren

³Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
C. H. A. Van de Lest

³Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

⁴Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
J. Boere

³Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
M. Reyes

⁵Department of Orthopaedics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
J. C. Ionita

⁶Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
M. Estrada

²Large Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, National University, Heredia, Costa Rica
C. J. Lischer

¹Equine Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Summary

Objective: Even though equine multi-limb tendinopathy models have been reported, it is unknown if fore- and hindlimb tendon healing behave similarly. The aim of this study was to compare the healing process of surgically induced superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) core lesions of fore- and hindlimbs in horses.

Methods: Tendon core lesions were surgically induced in the SDFT of both fore- and hindlimbs in eight horses. One randomly assigned forelimb and one randomly assigned hindlimb were injected with saline one and two weeks post-surgery. The healing process was monitored clinically and ultrasonographically. After 24 weeks, the tendons were harvested and biochemical, biomechanical and histological parameters were evaluated.

Results: Twenty-four weeks post-surgery, the forelimb SDFT lesions had a significantly higher colour Doppler ultrasound vascularization score (p = 0.02) and glycosaminoglycan concentration (p = 0.04) and a significantly lower hydroxylysylpyridinoline content (p = 0.03).

Clinical relevance: Our results indicate that fore- and hindlimb SDFT surgically induced lesions exhibit significant differences in several important parameters of tendon healing 24 weeks post-surgery. These differences create significant challenges in using all four limbs and accurately interpreting the results that one might generate. Therefore these findings do not support the use of four-limb models for study of tendon injury until the reasons for these differences are much better understood.

Keywords

Horse - superficial digital flexor tendon - tendinopathy - model - healing

Full Text

References

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