TY - JOUR

T1 - Long-term athletic performance in sport horses after desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon

AU - Wismann, Emilie S.

AU - Jacobsen, Stine

AU - Thøfner, Martin

AU - Ladefoged, Søren

AU - Ekstrøm, Claus

AU - Lindegaard, Casper

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 EVJ Ltd

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: Outcome after desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) to treat flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint has been reported to be excellent. However, no studies have compared long-term athletic performance of sport horses exposed to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT to that of matched controls. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare long-term athletic performance in sports horses subjected to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT with the performance of matched controls. Study design: This is an observational multicentre retrospective matched cohort study. Methods: Records from horses undergoing desmotomy of the AL-DDFT between 2004 and 2015 were reviewed. Various databases were used to identify age-matched siblings as unexposed controls and data on the horses' athletic careers. Results: Seventy-four exposed and 194 matched unexposed horses were included. Although not significantly different, the proportion of exposed horses entering competition (28%, 95% CI 16%-38%) had a substantial risk difference compared with the proportion of unexposed horses entering competition (38%, 95% CI 26%-44%) (P =.2). Career longevity was significantly better for unexposed (15.6 competitions [95% CI 10.7-22.5] over a median of 570 days [IQR 210-1340]) than for exposed horses (9.7 competitions [95% CI 6.4-14.6] over a median of 219 days [IQR 2-1159] for horses operated in one limb and 6.1 competitions [95% CI 3.6-9.9] over a median of 446 days [IQR 23-603 days] for horses operated in two limbs, P <.001). Age at surgery and whether the condition was unilateral or bilateral did not affect chance of competing. Main limitations: Small sample size, varying quality of medical records, stage of contraction not noted in many records and missing information on reasons for not entering into competition. Conclusions: Desmotomy of the AL-DDFT is associated with decreased long-term athletic performance in sport horses compared with matched unexposed horses.

AB - Background: Outcome after desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (AL-DDFT) to treat flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint has been reported to be excellent. However, no studies have compared long-term athletic performance of sport horses exposed to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT to that of matched controls. Objectives: The objective of this study is to compare long-term athletic performance in sports horses subjected to desmotomy of the AL-DDFT with the performance of matched controls. Study design: This is an observational multicentre retrospective matched cohort study. Methods: Records from horses undergoing desmotomy of the AL-DDFT between 2004 and 2015 were reviewed. Various databases were used to identify age-matched siblings as unexposed controls and data on the horses' athletic careers. Results: Seventy-four exposed and 194 matched unexposed horses were included. Although not significantly different, the proportion of exposed horses entering competition (28%, 95% CI 16%-38%) had a substantial risk difference compared with the proportion of unexposed horses entering competition (38%, 95% CI 26%-44%) (P =.2). Career longevity was significantly better for unexposed (15.6 competitions [95% CI 10.7-22.5] over a median of 570 days [IQR 210-1340]) than for exposed horses (9.7 competitions [95% CI 6.4-14.6] over a median of 219 days [IQR 2-1159] for horses operated in one limb and 6.1 competitions [95% CI 3.6-9.9] over a median of 446 days [IQR 23-603 days] for horses operated in two limbs, P <.001). Age at surgery and whether the condition was unilateral or bilateral did not affect chance of competing. Main limitations: Small sample size, varying quality of medical records, stage of contraction not noted in many records and missing information on reasons for not entering into competition. Conclusions: Desmotomy of the AL-DDFT is associated with decreased long-term athletic performance in sport horses compared with matched unexposed horses.

KW - accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon

KW - athletic performance

KW - desmotomy

KW - flexural limb deformity

KW - horse

U2 - 10.1111/evj.13472

DO - 10.1111/evj.13472

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34050971

AN - SCOPUS:85108799083

VL - 54

SP - 495

EP - 501

JO - Equine Veterinary Journal

JF - Equine Veterinary Journal

SN - 0425-1644

IS - 3

ER -