Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Surgery, Anaesthesia and Orthopaedics, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Equine Vet J. 2023 Sep;55(5):777-787. doi: 10.1111/evj.13893. Epub 2022 Oct 28.
Forelimb extensor tendon rupture (ETR) in foals is sparsely documented.
To describe clinical and imaging findings, treatment details, and long-term outcome in foals with ETR.
Multicentre retrospective case-series.
Clinical record review of foals with ETR, presented to Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University (Belgium), the Clinic for Horses at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Germany), and Rossdales Equine Hospital (UK) between 2009-2021. Long-term outcome based on structured telephone interview with the owner at the university hospitals and on future ratings from a public racing results archive at Rossdales Equine Hospital.
Eight foals (28%; 95%CI: 11.7%-44.3%) presented with ETR only, whereas 21 foals (72%; 95%CI: 55.7%-88.3%) presented with ETR and concurrent flexural limb deformity foals with ETR only were older (median 20 days; Interquartile range [IQR] 13-22) than foals with ETR and flexural limb deformity (median five days; IQR 3-11; p = 0.001). Treatment included medical support, immobilization, and box rest. Hospitalisation time was longer for foals with ETR and flexural limb deformity (median 26 days; IQR 16-44) than for ETR-only foals (median 11 days; IQR 6-16; p = 0.03). Total rehabilitation time was longer for foals with ETR and flexural limb deformity (median 58 days; IQR 42-91) than for foals without flexural limb deformity (median 32 days; IQR 12-39; p = 0.03). Six foals (21%; 95%CI: 6.3%-35.7%) were euthanased within seven months: three because of problems with limb protraction and progressive flexural limb deformity. Long-term follow-up (>18 months) was available for two cases with ETR only, and seven cases with ETR and flexural limb deformity. Both ETR-only foals had a positive cosmetic outcome but only one a positive functional outcome. Foals with ETR and concurrent flexural limb deformity suffered limitations regarding cosmetic appearance (5/7 negative) and limb function (7/7 negative).
Small sample size, retrospective study, and no clinical follow-up.
ETR is a rare condition in this sample of foals treated under hospital conditions often requiring prolonged care, especially with concurrent flexural limb deformity. Further research should investigate potential associations with future athletic performance.
前肢伸肌腱断裂（ETR）在马驹中鲜有报道。
描述 ETR 马驹的临床和影像学表现、治疗细节以及长期预后。
多中心回顾性病例系列研究。
对 2009 年至 2021 年期间在根特大学兽医学院（比利时）、汉诺威兽医大学马诊所（德国）和 Rossdales 马医院（英国）就诊的 ETR 马驹进行临床病历回顾。通过在大学医院对马驹主人进行结构化电话访谈，并通过 Rossdales 马医院的公共赛马成绩档案对未来的评分，评估长期预后。
8 匹（28%；95%CI：11.7%-44.3%）马驹仅表现出 ETR，而 21 匹（72%；95%CI：55.7%-88.3%）马驹同时表现出 ETR 和弯曲肢畸形。仅表现出 ETR 的马驹年龄较大（中位数 20 天；四分位距 [IQR] 13-22），而同时表现出 ETR 和弯曲肢畸形的马驹年龄较小（中位数 5 天；IQR 3-11；p=0.001）。治疗包括药物治疗、固定和限制活动。同时表现出 ETR 和弯曲肢畸形的马驹的住院时间较长（中位数 26 天；IQR 16-44），而仅表现出 ETR 的马驹的住院时间较短（中位数 11 天；IQR 6-16；p=0.03）。同时表现出 ETR 和弯曲肢畸形的马驹的总康复时间较长（中位数 58 天；IQR 42-91），而无弯曲肢畸形的马驹的总康复时间较短（中位数 32 天；IQR 12-39；p=0.03）。6 匹（21%；95%CI：6.3%-35.7%）马驹在 7 个月内被安乐死：3 匹因肢体前伸问题和进行性弯曲肢畸形而被安乐死。2 例仅表现出 ETR 的马驹和 7 例同时表现出 ETR 和弯曲肢畸形的马驹进行了超过 18 个月的长期随访。仅表现出 ETR 的两例马驹外观美观（2/2 例为阳性），但仅 1 例功能正常（1/2 例为阳性）。同时表现出 ETR 和弯曲肢畸形的马驹在外观（5/7 例为阴性）和肢体功能（7/7 例为阴性）方面均存在局限性。
样本量小、回顾性研究、无临床随访。
在本研究中，前肢伸肌腱断裂是一种罕见的疾病，需要长期治疗，尤其是伴有弯曲肢畸形的病例，需要更长的治疗时间。应进一步研究其与未来运动表现的潜在关联。
