34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Pathology associated with the palmar/plantar annular ligament (PAL) can result in lameness due to fetlock canal constriction (FCC). PAL desmotomy under tenoscopic-guidance has been suggested as the treatment of choice for FCC. The reported outcome for PAL desmotomy by various techniques is generally poor and not all horses in previous studies underwent tenoscopic examination of the DFTS. The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of tenoscopically guided PAL desmotomy in horses with primary FCC, as is common in the UK horse population.

Methods:

Horses with FCC that underwent tenoscopically-guided PAL desmotomy under general anesthesia from 2017-2022 at four UK equine hospitals were included. Cases with concurrent intrathecal DFTS pathology were excluded. Follow-up was obtained via a structured telephone questionnaire.

Results:

Sixty-seven horses met the inclusion criteria with long term (median 25 months) follow up available for 63 horses. Two horses (4%) were retired or euthanised for reasons unrelated to the DFTS/PAL. Of the 61 remaining horses 52 (85%) achieved soundness at a median of 3 months post-operatively. Forty-four horses (72%) returned to their previous or higher level of work post-operatively, 11 horses (18%) returned to a lower level of exercise, and 6 (10%) were retired or euthanised due to persistent lameness. Fifty-two (85%) of owners were satisfied with the outcome of surgery.

Conclusions:

Cases of FCC treated with tenoscopically-guided PAL desmotomy had a good prognosis for a return to previous levels of exercise with better outcomes than previously reported, irrespective of pre- and intra-operative variables.